I 


A    VOICE 

FROM    THE    PARSONAGE; 

OB, 

LIFE  IN  THE  MINISTRY. 


INTRODUCTORY      CHAPTER 


EDWARDS    A.    PARK,    D.  D., 

ABBOT  PROFESSOR  OF  THEOLOGY  THEOL.  SEM.,  ANDOVER. 


SECOND   EDITION. 


BOSTON: 
PUBLISHED   BY   S.  K.  WHIPPLE   AND    COMPANY, 

100    WASHINGTON    STREET. 

1854. 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1854,  by 

WILLIAM    WHITE, 
In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  District  of  Massachusetts. 


5T1 
BO-STOK 


SIDNEY  B.   MORSE,   ESQ., 

OF  BOSTON, 

For  his  varied  expressions  of  friendship,  rendered  not  only  when  a  parish- 
ioner, but  subsequently  to  the  sundering  of  the  pastoral  tie,  when  frequently 
the  motive  to  generosity  is  weakened,  thereby  evincing  the  power  of  sympathy 
and  liberality  to  produce  sunshine  and  pleasure  in  a  "  Life  in  the  Ministry," 
and  make  "  A  Voice  from  the  Parsonage  "  vocal  with  praise ;  though  in  reli- 
gious belief  not  in  harmony,  yet  differing  in  the  spirit  of  charity, 


18  MOST  RESPECTFULLY  AND  GRATEFULLY  DEDICATED 

BY  THE  AUTHOR. 


(3) 


2064884 


PREFACE. 


WHILST  with  the  ministry  of  the  sacred  word  in  this  land  of 
the  Pilgrim  Fathers  are  associated  all  the  benefits  which  make 
life  happy,  it  is  passing  strange  that  the  people  often  suffer 
themselves  to  be  deprived  of  any  of  the  influences  which  this 
blessed  institution  of  Heaven  is  designed  to  impart. 

Prominent  among  the  ways  in  which  these  influences  are  im- 
paired is  the  frequency  of  change  in  the  pastoral  office.  The 
causes  that  lead  to  such  change  are  often  the  best  evidence  for 
demonstrating  that  the  people  have  not  profited  as  they  might 
and  ought  to  have  done  under  those  utterances  of  the  word  with 
which  they  have  become  weary,  and  which  they  desire  to  have 
cease  that  more  welcome  ministrations  may  be  enjoyed.  Whilst 
these  causes,  which  are  many,  are  being  nourished,  as  they  fre- 
quently are  in  some  parishes  for  months  and  years,  and  in  the 
efforts  which  are  put  forth,  after  a  pastorate  has  become  vacated, 
to  obtain  an  incumbent  suited  to  the  sphere,  it  is  evident  the  word 
preached  doth  not  profit ;  for  the  seed  which  is  scattered  by  the 
1*  (5) 


6  PREFACE. 

sower  doth  not  fall  on  susceptible  soil,  where  it  can  bring  forth 
fruit,  "  some  thirty,  some  sixty,  and  some  an  hundred  fold" 

It  is  the  design  of  the  present  work  to  aid  in  counteracting 
this  evil  in  our  parishes,  which  has  become  truly  great  and  for- 
midable. By  it,  already,  has  spiritual  famine  been  occasioned 
in  many  a  garden  of  the  Lord ;  and  many  a  good  husbandman, 
placed  there  by  the  glorious  Proprietor,  has  been  driven  from 
his  place,  or  has  yielded  to  discouragement  and  despair,  and 
sought  relief  in  some  less  exposed  position.  Except  the  remedy 
for  this  evil,  which  is  readily  suggested  by  an  enlightened  and 
tender  conscience,  be  vigorously  applied,  it  is  not  pleasant  to  re- 
flect upon  the  consequences  of  its  enlargement  which  may  sur- 
round our  children  and  our  children's  children.  Then  it  may 
have  dreadfully  mai'red  and  disfigured  the  church  of  God,  and 
have  made  every  form  of  infidelity  victorious,  and  this  land  — 
which  for  the  love  of  truth  was  sought  after  and  obtained,  and 
which  became  a  goodly  land,  where  the  gospel  for  centuries  had 
free  course  and  was  glorified  —  have  become  a  desolate  land, 
forsaken  of  God,  and  a  place  of  idols  and  of  every  abomination. 

Many  months  ago  the  plan  and  general  features  of  this  work 
were  conceived  and  drawn  out,  and  before  any  other  work,  with 
the  slightest  resemblance  to  it,  was  known.  The  author,  there- 
fore, feels  that  he  is  not  an  imitator  of  others.  The  same  judg- 
ment, too,  it  is  thought,  will  be  formed  by  the  reader,  as  it  will 
be  perceived  that  the  general  train  of  thought  prevalent  in  the 
succeeding  pages  is  upon  subjects  which  are  not  imbodied  in  any 
other  work. 


PREFACE.  7 

Because  a  conversational,  and  not  a  didactic  style  has  been 
employed  it  need  not  be  supposed  that  the  present  work  is  a  fic- 
titious narrative,  without  the  authority  of  facts  and  truth.  Had 
it  not  been  for  facts  the  necessity  of  the  work  would  not  have 
been  suggested  nor  would  it  have  been  undertaken.  It  is  pre- 
sumed that  every  reader  who  has  had  acquaintance  with  the 
course  of  events  relating  to  pastors  and  churches  for  the  last 
quarter  of  a  century  can  readily  call  to  mind  cases  correspond- 
ing to  those  which  are  brought  to  view  in  the  present  volume ; 
and  other  readers,  who  may  not  have  been  particularly  conver- 
sant or  concerned  with  the  history  of  American  and  New  Eng- 
land churches  within  this  period,  will  find  it  to  be  no  difficult 
task,  when  the  mind  is  addressed  to  the  investigation,  to  gather 
a  multitude  of  facts  of  as  exciting  a  character  as  any  which  are 
disclosed  in  this  work.  The  author  feels  that  nothing  but  the 
truth  is  here  presented,  and  that  it  is  important  that  every  lover 
of  Zion  feel  such  truth,  and  be  incited  by  it  to  those  efforts 
which  a  knowledge  of  this  truth  must  suggest  as  being  absolutely 
demanded,  both  that  the  fulness  and  richness  of  the  ministry  of 
the  word  may  be  enjoyed  and  the  prosperity  and  stability  of  the 
churches  may  be  advanced. 

Should  the  pastors  of  our  churches  and  those  their  friends  of 
Zion  who  have  long  mourned  over  the  evils  which  are  in  this 
volume  portrayed  take  an  especial  interest  in  its  circulation  and 
commend  the  work  to  public  attention  in  their  respective  localities, 
it  is  thought  they  would  soon  have  evidence  that  they  had  been 
doing  an  important  work  for  their  own  particular  Zion  and  for 


8  PREFACE. 

the  completeness  and  permanency  of  their  own  particular  min- 
istry. 

If  in  any  degree  the  present  volume  shall  contribute  to  the 
accomplishment  of  these  objects,  the  design  of  its  mission  will 
be  fulfilled;  and  that  it  may,  is  the  author's  most  fervent 
prayer. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER   I.  PAG« 

ORDINATION 13 

CHAPTER  H. 
MARRIAGE  AND  COMMENCEMENT  OF  HOUSEKEEPING,         .       .       27 

CHAPTER   III. 

HARMONIOUS  STATE  OF  THE  PARISH  AND  PECULIAR  INTEREST 

IN  THE  PASTOR, ...       42 

CHAPTER  IV. 
CROOKED  STICK, 55 

CHAPTER    V. 
THE  PASTOR  A  MAN  OF  PRAYER 66 


CHAPTER  VI. 
THE  PASTOR  A  SOUND  THEOLOGIAN  AND  DILIGENT  STUDENT,     77 

CHAPTER  VII. 
THE  PASTOR  A  PROMOTER  OF  BENEVOLENT  EFFORTS,       .       .       88 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

THE    PASTOR'S    ACKNOWLEDGED    CARE    OF   THE    YOUNG.  — IN- 
TEREST IN  THE  AGED  AND  THE  IGNOBLE,       .  *.  ,  .       98 

(9) 


10  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  IX. 
THE  PASTOE  A  REVIVAL  PREACHER,  . 


CHAPTER  X. 
VISIT  OF  A  CONNECTICUT  PASTOR, 


CHAPTER  XI. 
AvDESTITUTE  PARISH, 


CHAPTER  XII. 
MISS  BEMIS, 152 

CHAPTER   Xm. 
AN  OLD  PARISH  DEBT, 102 


CHAPTER  XIV. 
SQUIRE  DAVIDSON  A  DELEGATE  TO  A  COUNCIL, 

CHAPTER  XV. 
AN  INCIDENT  AT  AN  ASSOCIATION, 


CHAPTER    XVI. 
AN  EVENING  IN  BOSTON,      .... 


CHAPTER  XVII. 
BROTHER'S  TROUBLE, 


CHAPTER  XVILT. 
ANOTHER  PHASE  OF  PASTORAL  LIFE, 


CHAPTER   XIX. 
AN  UNREASONABLE  PASTORAL  TAX,     .       .  .  221 


CHAPTER  XX. 
THE  PASTOR'S  WIFE, 


CHAPTER    XXI. 
VISIT  OF  MR.  AND  MRS.   BANCROFT,      . 


CONTENTS.  11 

CHAPTER  XXII. 


THE  REQUEST, 


CHAPTER  XXIH. 
A  MODEL  PARISH, 264 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 
THE  LETTER, .  278 


CHAPTER  XXV. 
THE  DIFFERENCE,       ....... 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

THE  PASTOR  CALLED  TO  A  PROFESSORSHIP,  .  .       296 

4 

CHAPTER  XXVII. 

A  DISAPPOINTMENT,         ...  ....  309 


CHAPTER  XXVLTI. 
CALL  TO  ANOTHER  COUNCIL,     .... 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 
THE  OTHER  STORE 


CHAPTER  XXX. 
REPAIRING  THE  CHURCH, 340 

CHAPTER  XXXI. 
THE  DEACON'S  SON,          .       .     ' 350 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 
A  DONATION  PARTY 36! 

CHAPTER  XXXILT. 
THE  PASTOR'S  VISIT  TO  HIS  NATIVE  TOWN, 373 

CHAPTER  XXXTV. 
THE  PASTOR'S  HORSE .       .         — •       ;       384 


12  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  XXXV. 


THE  LOAD  OF  WOOD, 


CHAPTER  XXXVI. 
THE  PASTOR'S  INTERVIEW  WITH  THE  DEACON 411 

CHAPTER   XXXVII. 
REQUEST  FOR  A  DISMISSION, 418 

CHAPTER  XXXVni. 
PARISH  MEETING  AND  COUNCIL, 430 


CHAPTER 
THE  EX-PASTOR " 


INTRODUCTORY  ESSAY. 


THE  object  of  the  work  which  this  brief  essay  introduces  to 
the  public  must  be  regarded,  not  by  the  Christian  only,  but  by 
the  mere  philanthropist  likewise,  as  one  of  serious  moment.  The 
book  is  designed  to  awaken  the  sympathies  of  men  in  behalf  of  a 
profession,  the  members  of  which  render  to  the  world  a  laborious 
service,  and  receive  from  the  world  a  comparatively  meagre  re- 
ward. In  furtherance  of  this  design,  it  cannot  be  amiss  to  offer 
here  a  few  words  on  the  influence  of  the  Christian  ministry. 

It  may  be  said  that  every  office  and  every  art  have  an  influence 
over  men ;  and  therefore  the  power  exerted  by  a  preacher  and 
pastor  is  no  very  distinctive  or  peculiar  argument  in  his  favor. 
The  genius  of  Robert  Hall  received  no  inconsiderable  aid  from 
the  conversation  of  a  tailor ;  and  perhaps  that  conversation  pro- 
duced effects  which  no  finite  mind  can  comprehend.  A  single 
leaf  from  Boston's  Fourfold  State,  found  and  perused  by  an  indi- 
vidual in  Virginia,  led  to  the  small  gathering  at  Morris's  Read- 
ing House,  and  to  the  preaching  of  Robinson  in  that  house,  and 
to  the  assistance  of  Samuel  Davies  in  his  education  for  the  min- 
istry, and  to  the  subsequent  employment  of  that  "prince  of 
preachers  "  in  the  vicinity  of  that  same  reading  house,  and  to  the 
long-continued  results  of  his  labors  in  the  region  which  was  first 
enlightened  by  a  leaf  from  the  Fourfold  State.  It  has  become  a 
proverb,  that  vast  influences  result  from  apparently  trivial  events  ; 
but,  from  the  circumstance  that  all  things  are  important  in  their 
operation  upon  society,  it  were  singular  to  infer  that  the  Christian 
a  (i) 


11  INTRODUCTORY   ESSAY. 

ministry  is  not  important.  The  agency  of  many  causes  is,  in  the 
common  language,  accidental ;  that  of  the  pulpit  is  the  uniform 
operation  of  known  laws.  It  is  a  prominent  agency,  attended 
with  consequences  eminently  far-reaching.  It  is  more  direct, 
more  uniform,  more  radical  than  other  causes  in  meliorating  the 
state  of  man.  True,  the  influence  of  the  preacher  is  not  always 
tangible.  He  founds  no  cities  which  are  called  after  his  name ; 
there  is  no  pillar  like  Trajan's,  no  Coliseum,  no  Simplon,  to  re- 
main as  a  specimen  of  his  skill.  Such  effects  may  be,  indeed, 
produced  indirectly  and  ultimately  by  the  minister  ;  but,  in  gen- 
eral, what  is  stately  and  imposing,  filling  the  eye  of  the  million,  and 
fit  to  be  celebrated  with  bonfires  and  illuminations,  is  not  the  imme- 
diate result  of  his  labors.  His  direct  influence  is  refined  and  in- 
ward. It  is  upon  the  soul,  is  felt  oftener  than  honored,  but  is  cer- 
tainly none  the  less  sublime  because  of  its  intangible  value.  Not 
seldom  is  it'  too  modest  to  be  even  discovered,  or  to  be  described, 
save  by  negations.  That  bad  men  are  no  worse,  rather  than  that 
good  men  are  so  good,  —  that  moral  evil  stops  where  it  does, 
rather  than  that  goodness  prevails  and  triumphs,  —  is  often  the 
chief  praise  of  the  clergyman's  usefulness.  The  father  of  our 
country  displayed  his  generalship  not  so  much  in  his  victorious 
onset  upon  the  hostile  invaders  as  in  preventing  their  depreda- 
tions upon  him  ;  and  sometimes  a  spiritual  shepherd  has  had  no 
success  in  aggressive  movements,  but  his  great  and  only  honor  is 
to  have  guarded  his  flock  from  the  wolves,  and  to  say,  "  Those 
that  thou  gavest  me  I  have  kept,  and  none  of  them  is  lost."  We 
wrong  the  good  man's  ministry  when  we  disparage  it  for  its  want 
of  positive  acquisitions.  Bad  as  his  people  are,  no  one  can  tell 
how  useful  he  has  been  in  preventing  them  from  becoming  worse. 
The  great  parade  they  make  of  indifference  to  his  teaching  is 
often  an  attempt  to  hide  their  real  alarm,  and  they  are  restive 
against  him  because  they  are  held  in  by  the  curb.  The  bravado 
of  wicked  men  is  often  a  eulogium  upon  their  minister,  and  their 
ostentation  of  sin  comes  from  their  very  fear  of  doing  Avhat  they 
boast  to  have  done,  and  from  an  unwillingness  to  let  any  one 
know  how  much  they  dread  the  reproofs  of  the  pulpit. 


INTRODUCTORY    ESSAY.  Hi 

The  preacher  has  an  influence  upon  the  intellect  of  his  people. 
He  presents  to  it  the  most  enlivening  and  enlarging  thoughts  ; 
and  nothing  takes  so  deep  a  hold  of  the  reasoning  powers  as  the 
series  of  proofs  which  he  may  enforce.  The  mind  is  invigorated 
by  grappling  with  the  objections  that  have  been  urged  against 
the  omniscience  and  omnipresence  of  God,  the  responsibility  of 
man,  the  whole  scheme  of  moral  government.  A  sermon,  if  it 
be  in  good  faith  a  sermon,  reaches  the  very  elements  of  the  soul, 
and  stirs  up  its  hidden  energies  ;  for  such  a  sermon  is  a  message 
from  God ;  is  pregnant  with  what  the  mind  is  made  for  —  the 
solemn  realities  of  eternity  ;  is  prolific,  if  need  be,  in  stern  and 
skilful  argument ;  holds  out  a  rich  reward  to  man's  desire  of  mental 
progress ;  and  allures,  as  well  as  urges,  to  an  intense  love  of  study. 
It  is  a  book  of  mental  discipline  to  its  hearers,  and  its  author  is 
a  schoolmaster  for  children  of  a  larger  growth.  A  late  professor 
in  one  of  our  universities,  who  has  been  famed  throughout  the 
land  for  his  effective  eloquence  at  the  bar  and  on  the  floor  of  Con- 
gress, says  that  he  first  learned  how  to  reason  while  hearing  the 
sermons  of  a  New  England  pastor,  who  began  to  preach  before 
he  had  studied  a  single  treatise  on  style  or  speaking ;  and  two 
or  three  erudite  jurists,  who  dislike  the  theological  'opinions  of 
this  divine,  have  recommended  his  sermons  to  law  students  as 
models  of  logical  argument,  and  affording  a  kind  of  gymnastic 
exercise  to  the  mind.  It  is  thus  that  one  of  the  most  modest  of 
men,  while  writing  his  plain  sermons,  was  exerting  a  prospective 
influence  over  our  civil  and  judicial  tribunals.  The  pulpit  of  a 
country  village  was  preparing  speeches  for  the  Congress  of  the 
nation.  The  discourses  and  treatises  of  such  divines  as  Chil- 
lingworth  and  Butler  have  been  often  kept  by  lawyers  and  states- 
men on  the  same  shelf  with  Euclid  and  Lacroix.  Patrick  Henry 
lived  from  his  eleventh  to  his  twenty-second  year  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  Samuel  Davies,  and  is  said  to  have  been  stimulated 
to  his  masterly  efforts  by  the  discourses  of  that  thoughtful  divine. 
He  often  spoke  of  Davies  in  terms  of  enthusiastic  praise,  and 
resembled  him  in  some  characteristics  of  his  eloquence. 

Working  as  the  preacher  does  upon  the  mental  powers,  he  of 


IV  INTRODUCTORY    ESSAY. 

course  modifies  the  literary  character  of  a  people.  Whitefield 
made  so  little  pretensioo  to  scholarship  that  men  often  smile  when 
he  is  called  the  pioneer  of  a  great  improvement  in  the  literature 
of  Britain.  They  overlook  the  masculine  and  transforming 
energy  of  the  religious  principle  when  stirred  up,  as  it  was,  by 
his  preaching  against  the  pride,  and  indulgences,  and  selfishness 
of  men.  They  forget  that  influence  often  works  from  the  lower 
classes  upward,  and  that,  when  the  mass  of  men  become  intel- 
lectual, the  higher  orders  must  either  become  so  or  must  yield 
their  supremacy.  Whatever  operates  deeply  on  the  soul  of  the 
humblest  mechanic  will  modify  the  character  of  popular  litera- 
ture. The  sermons  of  a  parish  minister  are  the  standard  of 
taste  to  many  in  his  society  ;  his  style  is  the  model  for  their  con- 
versation and  writing  ;  his  provincial  and  outlandish  terms  they 
adopt  and  circulate ;  and  his  mode  of  thinking  is  imitated  by  the 
school  teacher  and  the  mother,  the  merchant  and  the  manufac- 
turer. You  can  see  the  effects  of  his  chaste  or  rude  style  in  the 
language  of  the  ploughboy  and  the  small  talk  of  the  nursery. 
He  has  more  frequent  communion  than  other  literary  men  with 
the  middle  classes  of  the  people,  and  through  these  his  influence 
extends  to  the  higher  and  the  lower.  He  is  the  guardian  of  the 
language  and  the  reading  of  the  most  sedate  portions  of  society, 
and  in  their  families  are  trained  the  men  of  patient  thought  and 
accurate  scholarship.  His  influence  on  the  popular  vocabulary 
is  often  overlooked,  and  is  not  always  the  same ;  but  he  often 
virtually  stands  at  the  parish  gate  to  let  in  one  book  and  keep  out 
another,  to  admit  certain  words  and  to  exclude  certain  phrases, 
and  to  introduce  or  discard  barbarisms,  solecisms,  impropriety, 
and  looseness  of  speech.  The  sermons  of  Leighton,  South, 
Howe,  Bates,  Atterbury,  and  Paley  show  somewhat  of  the  ex- 
tent to  which  the  literature  of  England  is  indebted  to  her  priest- 
hood. When  Lord  Chatham  was  asked  the  secret  of  his  dig- 
nified and  eloquent  style,  he  replied  that  he  had  read  twice,  from 
beginning  to  end,  Bailey's  Dictionary,  and  had  perused  some  of 
Dr.  Barrow's  sermons  so  often  that  he  had  learned  them  by 
heart. 


INTRODUCTORY    ESSAY.  V 

By  the  influence  which  a  minister's  own  mind  receives  from 
his  habit  of  sermonizing,  and  which  he  sends  forth  from  the 
pulpit  and  from  the  fireside,  he  often  raises  the  standard  of 
scholarship,  and  excites  the  youth  in  his  society  to  a  course  of 
liberal  education.  Very  much  through  the  instrumentality  of  a 
single  clergyman,  living  in  a  retired  part  of  Massachusetts, 
thirty  young  men  of  his  parish  were  trained  for  professional  life. 
More  than  this  number  have  gone  to  our  colleges  from  a  single 
religious  society  in  New  Hampshire.  The  Rev.  Moses  Hallock, 
of  Plainfield,  Massachusetts,  prepared  about  a  hundred  youth  for 
college.  Dr.  Wood,  of  Boscawen,  New  Hampshire,  prepared 
the  same  number,  and  among  them  his  two  parishioners,  Ezekiel 
and  Daniel  Webster.  A  hundred  and  sixty-two  young  men  were 
educated  by  a  plain  pastor  in  the  neighborhood  of  Boscawen, 
and  about  thirty  of  them  are  members  of  the  learned  profes- 
sions. Each  of  these  clergymen  will  long  live  in  his  pupils,  and 
whatever  may  have  been  his  own  literary  attainments,  will  pro- 
duce, and  has  produced,  a  visible  effect  on  the  literary  character 
of  multitudes.  This  effect  was  not,  indeed,  produced  by  sermons 
altogether,  but  in  some  degree  ;  not  merely  by  their  direct  in- 
fluence upon  the  auditor,  but  also  by  their  reflex  operation  upon 
the  preacher  himself.  His  appropriate  work  inspires  and  pre- 
pares him  for  subordinate  literary  labors.  He  cannot  fitly 
prepare  his  sermons,  without  feeling  a  stimulus  to  labor  in  the 
cause  of  general  education.  From  his  habit  of  oral  address  he 
derives  a  certain  kind  of  directness  and  energy  of  thought  and 
expression,  which  qualify  him  for  exerting  an  important  influence 
from  the  press.  Had  not  Martin  Luther  been  trained  for  and 
in  the  pulpit,  he  had  never  been  so  forceful  and  popular  in  his 
written  essays.  It  was  in  no  small  degree  by  his  sermons  that 
he  woke  up  his  own  mind  and  that  of  his  countrymen.  The  lit- 
erature of  Germany  and  of  the  world  has  been  animated  and 
enriched  by  the  results  of  his  preaching.  Who  can  estimate 
the  intellectual  influence  of  the  Bishop  of  Hippo  upon  his  own 
age,  upon  the  Augustinian  and  other  monastic  orders  of  suc- 
ceeding ages,  upon  John  Calvin,  and  through  him  upon  Switzer- 
a* 


VI  INTRODUCTORY    ESSAY. 

land,  and,  by  the  intervention  of  John  Knox,  upon  Scotland, 
England,  and  America,  upon  Schleiermacher,  and  through  him 
upon  Germany?  It  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  Augustine 
would  never  have  wielded  this  power  over  the  race  had  he  not 
been  a  preacher ;  for  his  sacred  calling  stirred  up  the  depths  of 
his  soul,  and  gave  him  a  strength  and  completeness  of  character 
—  also  a  venerableness  of  name  —  which  a  mere  philosopher, 
even  one  like  Aristotle,  can  seldom,  if  ever,  acquire. 

The  minister's  influence  is  obvious  upon  the  morals  and  busi- 
ness of  a  people.  He  touches  the  main-spring  of  the  political 
machine,  and  its  extremities  are  quickened.  Waking  up  the  in- 
tellect, he  stimulates  to  enterprise  ;  refining  the  taste,  he  throws 
an  air  of  neatness  over  the  parish.  He  pleads  for  industry  and 
method, — for  honest  dealing  and  temperate  habits,  —  for  good 
order  in  the  family,  and  school,  and  state.  He  preaches  from 
that  text  which  is  the  mother  of  friendship  and  thrift,  —  "  Study 
to  be  quiet  and  to  do  your  own  business."  *  He  infuses  new  vigor 
into  the  counting  room  and  new  faithfulness  over  the  farm. 
Where  the  true  preacher  is  at  work,  you  will  see  the  fruits  of  his 
labor  in  even  roads,  and  strong  walls,  and  thriving  arts,  and  a 
wholesome  police ;  but  where  the  doors  of  the  meeting-house  are 
left  unhinged,  and  the  windows  broken  out,  and  the  pulpit  is 
given  up  to  swallows'  nests  and  the  pews  to  sheep,  there  you 
will  find  a  listless  yeomanry  and  ragged  farms,  thin  schools  and 
crowded  bar-rooms.  The  history  of  a  church  is  often  the  history 
of  a  town  ;  when  the  one  flourishes,  the  other  feels  its  influence. 
More  than  twenty  parishes  in  New  England  might  be  mentioned, 
where  the  settlement  of  a  faithful  pastor  was  the  prelude  to  rapid 
improvements  in  agriculture  and  trade,  the  style  of  building  and 
of  dress,  the  complexion  of  politics  and  the  whole  cast  of  char 
actcr.  What  one  preacher  does  for  a  parish,  thousands  do  for 
the  nation.  To  the  complaint  that  the  ministry  is  expensive,  we 
may  reply  in  words  like  those  of  Dr.  South  :  "  The  money  given 
for  preaching  must  be  given  away ;  if  not  for  churches,  then  for 

*  1  Thess.  4:  11. 


SSAY.  vii 

more  jails  ;  if  not  for  houses  of  prevention,  then  for  new  houses 
of  correction ;  and  it  is  as  good  economy  to  support  religious 
teachers  as  to  support  more  watchmen  and  busier  hangmen  — 
to  raise  new  whipping  posts  and  pillories."  Even  the  history  of 
the  name  clergyman  illustrates  the  humane  relations  that  subsist 
between  the  ministerial  office  and  the  literature,  the  morals,  the 
penal  code  of  the  community.  In  the  books  of  English  law  we 
often  read  of  criminals  convicted  with  or  without  "  the  benefit  of 
clergy."  This  benefit  was  an  exemption  from  the  kind  and  degree 
of  punishment  prescribed  for  lay  offenders,  and  the  exemption 
was  once  extended  to  all  criminals  who  could  read  and  write. 
•Still  it  retained  its  instructive  name,  the  benefit  of  clergy, 
because  nearly  all  who  had  any  acquaintance  with  the  rudi- 
ments of  education  were  clergymen,  and  an  ability  to  read  was 
a  legal  sign  of  the  sacred  office.  Hence  clergy,  scholars,  and 
clerks  were  convertible  terms  in  the  old  English  style,  and  clerk 
is  still  the  law  term  for  a  preacher  of  the  gospel.  When  a  man 
•was  convicted  of  felony  or  manslaughter,  he  was  "  put  to  read  in 
a  Latin  book,  of  a  Gothic,  black  character,  and  if  the  ordinary  of 
Newgate  said,  Legit  ut  chricus,  — i.  e.,  he  reads  like  a  clerk,  —  he 
was  only  burned  in  the  hand  and  set  free  ;  otherwise  he  suffered 
death  for  his  crime."  It  is  indeed  a  sad  feature  of  past  ages, 
that  the  circumstance  of  having  received  a  clerk's  education 
should  have  released  an  offender  from  the  punishment  which  he 
deserved.  Still  there  is  a  pleasant  meaning  in  the  fact,  that  such 
an  education  was  supposed  to  be  incompatible  with  the  grossest 
forms  of  sin,  and  that  the  term  clergyman  was  regarded  as  sy- 
nonymous with  the  terms  learned  and  good. 

But  let  us  take  higher  ground.  The  preacher  has  been  shown 
to  exert  an  influence  upon  the  perceptions,  the  business,  the 
morals,  and  politics  of  a  community.  His  great  effect,  how- 
ever, is  produced  upon  the  religious  character.  We  shall  not  be 
suspected  of  implying  that  he  transforms  the  heart  without  the 
special  interposition  of  the  Holy  Ghost ;  and  yet  there  is  a  sense 
in  which  a  dependent  apostle  may  declare,  "  I  have  begotten  you 
through  the  Gospel."  Although  the  soul  is  in  its  nature  percip- 


Vlii  INTRODUCTORY    ESSAY. 

lent,  yet,  when  it  has  been  quickened  by  the  supernatural  grace 
that  often  attends  the  instructions  of  the  man  of  God,  it  exclaims, 
"  Whereas  I  was  once  blind,  I  now  see."  Although  its  very 
essence  is  to  feel  and  act,  it  may  still  be  so  much  animated  by 
the  divine  power  which  is  sometimes  given  to  the  preacher's 
word  as  to  confess,  "  I  was  dead,  but  am  alive  again,  was  buried 
in  sin,  but  am  risen,  and  now  walk  in  newness  of  life."  Love 
to  God,  penitence  for  transgression,  faith  in  Christ,  and  the 
specific  virtues  involved  in  these,  are  the  noblest  attainments 
of  the  soul ;  they  are  essential  to  the  harmony  between  the 
intellectual  and  the  moral  nature,  and  without  them  man  can 
never  gain  his  appropriate  honor  and  strength.  But  these  are 
the  qualities  which  the  minister  aims  to  call  forth,  and  which  are 
seldom  manifested  in  the  life  of  such  as  are  not  hearers  of  the 
word.  Pain,  the  evil  which  all  men  would  avoid,  and  by  the 
fear  of  which  they  are  hurried  into  the  very  courses  which  end 
in  what  they  dread,  can  be  ultimately  averted  only  by  yielding 
to  persuasives  like  those  of  the  preached  Gospel.  Happiness, 
the  first  thing  which  man  desires,  and  the  love  of  which  is 
essential  to  him  as  a  voluntary  agent,  can  be  ultimately  attained 
through  the  influence  of  such  truth  only  as  is  declared  from  the 
pulpit.  Not  his  own  happiness  alone  does  the  minister  secure, 
but  that  of  his  neighbor  also ;  not  mere  animal  or  intellectual 
happiness,  but  spiritual ;  not  for  a  day  or  a  life,  but  for  eternity ; 
not  merely  eternal,  but  eternally  increasing.  He  procures  this 
inward,  immortal,  and  ever-augmenting  bliss  for  a  soul  that 
would  otherwise  endure  an  inward  and  ever-increasing  misery. 
It  is  not  one  soul  only  that  he  benefits,  nor  two,  nor  twenty,  but 
perhaps  a  hundred ;  and  a  hundred  eternities,  otherwise  spent  in 
the  darkness  that  no  light  cheers,  are  now  spent  in  the  paradise 
of  God.  Of  the  hundred  immortals  thus  transformed  by  the 
instrumentality  of  a  single  preacher,  who  knows  but  some  one 
may  be  the  means  of  interminable  good  to  a  hundred  more  ?  — 
may  be  a  Fuller,  or  a  Payson,  or  a  Harlan  Page,  or  a  Mrs. 
Judson  ?  Is  it  not  a  moderate-calculation  that  a  hundred  faith- 
ful disciples  will  exert  an  influence  which  God  will  bless  to  the 


INTRODUCTORY    ESSAY.  IX 

spiritual  welfare  of  at  least  two  hundred  of  their  fellow-men, 
their  kindred  or  friends,  for  whom  they  toil  and  pray,  each  one, 
on  an  average,  bringing  two  additional  talents  into  the  sacred  treas- 
ury ?  And  these  two  hundred  Christians  may  impart  —  as  parents 
are  a  means  of  imparting  in  a  kind  of  legacy  —  their  religious 
character  to  their  children,  and  a  thousand  of  their  children's  chil- 
dren may  lahor,  each  one  in  his  own  circle,  for  the  renovation  of 
other  souls.  Each  one  in  his  own  circle  of  friends ;  and  here 
are  a  thousand  different  circles,  and  each  member  of  each  of 
these  circles  has  a  separate  band  of  his  own  associates,  and  the 
influence  thus  branches  out  into  a  new  sphere,  and  will  continue 
to  widen  and  amplify,  and  to  include  still  other  multitudes. 

It  is  well  to  reflect  minutely  on  the  manner  in  which  influence 
is  propagated,  filling  one  area  after  another,  transmitted  from  a 
few  ancestors  to  a  numerous  posterity,  and  flowing  on  like  a 
stream,  broader  and  deeper,  till  it  becomes  a  mystery  how  such 
great  effects  can  result  from  a  cause  so  limited.  We  should  also 
consider  the  new  impressions  which  are  often  produced  by  the 
minister's  printed  works  long  after  his  death.  Many  a  clergy- 
man never  dies.  If  his  name  were  forgotten,  he  would  still  be 
producing  effects  of  which  he  is  not  recognized  as  the  author ; 
but  sometimes  a  clergyman  like  Chrysostom  lives  and  preaches, 
generation  after  generation,  among  a  larger  community  of  readers 
than  he  ever  orally  addressed ;  and  in  addition  to  the  good  that 
flows  from  the  multitude  who  were  benefited  by  his  life  is  a  still 
greater  good,  that  is  constantly  springing  up  in  minds  conversant 
with  his  posthumous  sermons.  He  is  still  beginning  to  put  hi 
train  systems  of  moral  influence  which  are  entirely  distinct  from 
the  systems  originated  upon  the  minds  of  his  contemporaries,  and 
continued,  by  the  natural  laws  of  transmission  and  expansion, 
from  one  age  to  another  of  their  posterity. 

It  were  easy  to  fill  a  volume  with  illustrations  of  the  wide- 
spread and  long-continued  results  flowing  from  the  life  and  the 
words  of  a  Christian  minister  —  not  merely  the  eloquent  and 
the  eminent  divine,  but  the  humblest  pastor  of  the  obscurest 
hamlet.  But  this  essay  must  needs  be  limited  to  a  few  pages, 


X  INTRODUCTORY    ESSAY. 

and  has  perhaps  already  suggested  some  hint  which  may  prompt 
the  reader  to  peruse  the  following  pages,  designed  as  they  are  to 
secure  a  more  cordial  sympathy  with  the  man  who  labors  for  the 
education  of  his  race ,  in  the  noblest  of  all  sciences,  and  for  the 
preparation  of  the  soul  for  the  highest  and  the  purest  of  all 
rewards. 

EDWARDS  A.  PARK. 
ANDOVER,  July  13,  1854. 


A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 


CHAPTER    I. 

ORDINATION. 

FROM  one  of  the  beautiful  towns  of  New  England  two 
sons  and  brothers  went  forth  together,  soon  after  attain- 
ing their  majority,  to  enter  on  the  active  duties  of  life  in 
the  State  of  Virginia.  These  sons,  by  their  mother,  de- 
scended from  one  of  those  distinguished  clergymen  of 
which  -their  native  state  has  furnished  so  many,  who  during 
a  long  life  was  the  minister  of  the  town  and  parish.  Their 
mother  was  the  daughter  of  a  highly  respectable  and  af- 
fluent merchant  of  the  place,  and  was  greatly  distinguished 
by  the  beauty  of  her  person,  the  refinement  of  her  man- 
ners, the  intelligence  of  her  mind,  and  the  fervor  of  her 
piety.  Their  father  was  of  Connecticut  origin,  but  left 
the  place  of  his  nativity  when  a  young  man,  and  entered 
on  mercantile  pursuits  in  the  town  where  they  were  born. 
He,  too,  was  a  gentleman  of  considerable  education,  was 
possessed  of  what  is  popularly  called  strong  common 
sense,  and  was  long  confided  in  by  the  community  as  a 
man  whose  example  it  were  safe  to  follow  and  whose 
opinions  it  were  unwise  to  disregard.  Such  being  the 
character  of  the  parents,  it  is  easy  to  infer  the  influences 
which  would  control  the  education  of  the  children.  It  is 
therefore  sufficient  to  remark  that  they  were  nurtured  in 


14  A   VOICE   FROM   THE   PARSONAGE. 

the  fear  of  God,  and  with  continued  supplication  at  hig 
gracious  throne  that  they  might  each  be  beacon  lights  in 
the  community  to  guide  and  persuade  all  around  into  ways 
of  virtue,  philanthropy,  and  general  usefulness.  Although 
it  was  the  happiness  of  Squire  and  Mrs.  Davidson  to  see 
some  of  their  children  exhibit  the  blessed  fruits  of  the  in- 
fluences which  they  so  sedulously  employed  in  their  ed- 
ucation, they  were  not  all  developed  in  the  sons  Charles 
and  Edmund,  of  whom  the  reader  is  now  being  informed, 
in  the  period  of  their  history  to  which  this  chapter  relates. 
Having  been  conversant  with  fashionable  life,  —  for  no 
circle  was  higher  than  that  in  which  their  family  moved, 
—  and  having  always  known  the  blessings  of  affluence, 
their  buoyant  spirits  had  not  yet  been  mellowed  by  the 
genial  influences  of  piety.  Whilst  their  parents  prized 
them  for  their  general  dutifulness  and  saw  no  tendency  to 
disreputable  life,  they  had  many  seasons  of  grief  because 
their  God  was  not  the  God  of  these  their  sons.  Nor  were 
^hey  strongly  averse  to  all  the  influences-  of  religion,  nor 
"extremely  restive  when  these  influences  were  tightly  in- 
twined  around  them  ;  but  the  mother,  when  every  feature 
of  her  face  was  serious  and  earnest,  as  she  strove  with 
them  to  pursue  things  eternal  rather  than  what  were 
earthly,  often  found  it  extremely  difficult  to  prevent  her 
pleasant  eye  from  being  in  sympathy  with  her  lips  as 
something  more  than  a  smile  was  seen  there  at  play,  whilst 
some  unlooked-for  pleasantry  escaped  from  them. 

From  the  character  the  mother  had  given  them  of  their 
grandfather,  before  alluded  to,  as  well  as  from  the  friend- 
ly relations  subsisting  between  their  parents  and  many  of 
the  clergy,  and  from  the  position  their  father  occupied  in 
the  parish  as  one  of  the  principal  men,  if  not  the  leading 
character,  therein,  all  their  children  were  sensitive  to  every 
thing  pertaining  to  the  prosperity  of  the  church. 

At  the  period  when  the  ordination  we  are  now  de- 


ORDINATION.  IS 

scribing  was  to  occur  in  their  native  town,  Charles  and 
Edmund  had  been  residents  of  Virginia  about  twelve 
years,  and  had  made  but  one  visit  to  the  home  of  their 
childhood  and  youth.  Each  had  married  and  become  a 
parent,  and  both  had  prospered  in  business ;  and  Charles, 
by  his  marriage,  had  become  exceedingly  affluent.  One 
day  in  the  month  of  April,  as  he  was  sitting  at  dinner  in 
his  splendid  mansion,  he  remarked  to  his  wife, — 

"  My  dear,  I  have  had  a  letter  from  mother  to-day  ;  and, 
among  other  things,  she  informs  me  they  are  to  have  an 
ordination  there  on  the  10th  of  June." 

"  Ordination  !  "  said  a  little  boy  of  some  eight  years,  as 
he  turned  his  sparkling  blue  eyes  in  surprise  on  his  father. 
"What  is  that?" 

"  Well,  Arthur,"  replied  the  father,  "  if  your  grandmoth- 
er Davidson  were  here  I  rather  think  she  would  be  sur- 
prised at  your  question,  and  would  think  that  I  had  not 
endeavored  to  make  you  familiar  with  scenes  in  New- 
England  which  are  ever  regarded  with  the  greatest 
interest." 

"  I  think  not,  husband,"  remarked  the  wife.  "  I  think 
her  candor  would  incline  her  to  make  allowance  for  differ- 
ence in  circumstances.  She  would  not  be  surprised  at 
Arthur's  question  ;  for  you  know  our  worship  is  different 
from  hers,  and  ordination  among  Episcopalians  is  not  a 
very  common  service  only  in  the  parish  where  the  bishop 
resides.  I  do  not  think  Arthur's  question  a  very  surpris- 
ing one." 

"  Papa,"  said  little  Arthur,  impatient  at  the  digression 
which  had  retarded  the  answer  to  his  question,  "what  is 
ordination  ?  " 

"  Well,  now,  my  son,"  the  father  said,  as  he  put  his  arm 
around  the  neck  of  Arthur,  "  I  will  tell  you.  Ordination 
is  making  a  minister." 

"Minister!    What  is  that  ?" 


16  A   VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

At  this  question  both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Davidson 
nearly  convulsed  with  laughter,  which  almost  bewildered 
poor  Arthur,  who '  was  far  from  thinking  of  provoking 
even-  a  smile.  As  soon  as  the  father  had  recovered  him- 
self sufficiently  to  speak,  he  remarked,  — 

"  My  dear,  if  mother  were  here  now  I  rather  think  she 
would  conclude  there  was  no  Puritanism  in  this  quarter, 
and  that  I  had  abjured  the  faith." 

"  I  really  thought,"  said  Mrs.  Davidson,  "  that  Arthur 
knew  what  a  minister  is  ;  for  you  know  how  many  times 
we  read  of  the  minister  in  the  prayer  book." 

"  I  rather  guess,"  said  Mr.  Davidson,  "  the  boy  don't 
read  the  prayer  book  much." 

"  Well,  he  hears  from  it  almost  every  Sunday  at  church," 
Mrs.  Davidson  replied. 

"  But  you  know,  my  dear,  there  is  not  any  thing  said  at 
church  about  the  minister.  What  is  in  the  prayer  book 
is  only  direction  to  the  minister  to  say  or  do  thus  and  so. 
Arthur  knows  what  a  minister  is  ;  only  he  knows  him 
under  another  name.  He  seldom,  if  ever,  hears  Mr. 
Crocker  spoken  of  only  as  our  rector,  you  know." 

"  Is  Mr.  Crocker  a  minister,  papa  ?  " 

"  Yes,  my  son  ;  Mr.  Crocker  is  a  minister.  We  call 
him  rector  because  we  are  all  of  us  in  this  region  Episco- 
palians. Where  I  was  born  there  are  a  few  Episcopa- 
lians. The  great  majority  of  the  people  are  Methodists, 
Congregationalists,  or  Baptists  ;  and  they  call  their  preach- 
ers, when  settled,  pastors,  or  ministers." 

"  I  think  you  said,  papa,  ordination  meant  making  a 
minister.  I  should  not  think  that  that  was  any  great 
affair." 

"  It  is,  Arthur,  in  New-  England,"  said  the  father. 
"  When  they  ordain  a  minister  where  grandpa  Davidson 
lives  it  is  a  great  day.  Much  more  do  they  make  of  it 
than  we  do  of  our  Christmas." 


ORDINATION.  IT 

"  "  Is  it  any  like  Christmas,  papa  ?  0,  I  like  Christmas  ; 
for  then  we  see  our  friends  and  have  all  the  good  things 
to  eat.  0,  I  like  Christmas  ;  I  wish  it  was  all  the  time." 

"  I  have  been  thinking,  my  dear,  since  I  received  moth- 
er's letter,  that  perhaps  we  had  better  conclude  to  make 
our  visit  at  the  north  this  season  instead  of  the  next.  I 
should  really  like  to  be  at  home  when  they  have  their  or- 
dination. If  you  approve,  I  think  we  will  go  on,  and  take 
Louisa  and  Arthur  with  us." 

"  Yes,  papa,  that  is  good  ;  do  go.     I  want  to  go." 

"  I  rather  think,?'  said  the  father,  "  if  you  go,  I  shall  be 
under  the  necessity  of  giving  you  a  little  instruction  to 
prepare  you  to  meet  grandpa  and  grandma  Davidson.  I 
must  get  some  Puritanism  in  you  to  have  you  of  good 
savor  with  them." 

It  was  finally  concluded  by  both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  David- 
son that  they  would  visit  New  England  and  be  present  at 
the  ordination  in  the  town  where  he  had  passed  his  early 
life.  Accordingly,  about  the  middle  of  May  they  set  out 
on  their  long  journey,  and  arrived  at  the  paternal  mansion 
on  the  Monday  preceding  the  ordination.  As  no  intima- 
tion had  been  given  of  the  intended  visit,  it  may  easily  be 
imagined  what  was  the  surprise  depicted  on  every  coun- 
tenance as  young  Davidson  unceremoniously  opened  the 
sitting-room  door,  that  opened  from  the  hall  into  which  he 
and  his  wife  and  children  had  silently  entered. 

"  Charles — Charles  Davidson!  "  exclaimed  his  mother, 
as  she  let  fall  the  cup  of  tea  which  was  half  raised  to  her 
lips,  "  is  that  you  ?  "  instantly  rising  from  the  table  where 
the  family  were  at  tea. 

"  Why,  Charles ! "  burst  forth  from  the  squire,  letting 
his  knife  suddenly  fall  on  his  plate,  "  how  you  surprise 
us !  "  and,  following  the  example  of  his  wife,  left  his  seat 
to  grasp  the  hands  of  his  children. 

"  And  you,  Ann,"  turning  from  Charles  to  his  wife,  said 
2*  ft. 


18  A   VOICE  FROM  THE   PARSONAGE. 

the  mother,  — "  how  do  you  do  ?  and,  Louisa  and  Arthur, 
how  are  you  ?  "  as  she  rapidly  seized  their  hands  and  im- 
printed on  their  faces  a  succession  of  kisses  and  various- 
ly expressed  her  surprise  and  joy. 

As  soon  as  Squire  and  Mrs.  Davidson  had  given  vent  to 
their  feelings  and  had  relaxed  their  grasp  of  the  hands  of 
their  visitors,  the  other  members  of  the  family  had  oppor- 
tunity of  testitying  their  love  and  joy  to  the  brother  and 
sister  and  nephew  and  niece.  Among  these  was  an  aunt 
of  Charles,  the  sister  of  his  father,  ever  regarded  by  all 
the  children  of  the  squire  with  the  greatest  affection  and 
respect.  Being  now  greatly  enfeebled  by  age  and  dis- 
ease, she  slowly  approached  the  group,  manifesting  her 
great  interest  in  the  new  comers  by  many  expressions  of 
tenderness  and  love. 

"  "Well,  Charles,"  concluded  aunt  Sarah,  after  having 
given  her  first  salutations,  "  you  will  be  here  now  at  our 
ordination,  Wednesday." 

"Yes,  aunt,"  said  Charles ;  "  that  is  what  excited  the 
idea  of  this  visit,  I  confess.  I  did  not  think  of  coming  on 
this  season  until  I  received  mother's  letter  in  April  last,  in 
which  she  informed  me  you  were  to  have  an  ordination 
here." 

"  Why,"  exclaimed  the  squire,  "  did  you  not  inform  us 
you  were  coining  in  the  letter  I  received  from  you  two 
weeks  since,  when  you  were  at  Baltimore  ?  I  did  not 
dream  you  were  then  on  your  way  here.  I  thought  you 
were  there  on  business,  and  had  your  family  with  you  vis- 
iting their  relatives." 

"  I  thought,  father,  I  would  not  excite  expectation  ;  and, 
moreover,  I  pictured  to  myself  the  very  scene  which  has 
been  enacted  here  this  evening,  and  I  thought  I  should  en- 
joy very  much  the  surprise  which  has  been  manifested 
since  our  arrival." 

"  Well,"  said   aunt   Sarah,   "  Charles  is    Charles  yet. 


ORDINATION.  19 

When  he  was  a  boy  there  was  no  calculating  on  his 
capers." 

"  There  was  no  great  criminality  attending  my  boyish 
capers,  was  there,  aunt  Sarah  ?  " 

"  0,  no,"  aunt  Sarah  replied.  "  They  were  so  different 
from  other  boys'  that  I  was  never  exactly  prepared  for 
them." 

The  evening  wore  away  while  the  whole  family  group 
were  busy  in  conversation  on  various  subjects  connected 
with  home  scenes,  and  it  was  rather  a  late  hour  before  re- 
sort was  had  to  slumber. 

The  next  morning  at  the  breakfast  table,  the  conversa- 
tion turning  upon  the  important  event  that  was  to  trans- 
pire on  the  ensuing  day,  Charles  asked  of  his  father  who 
and  what  kind  of  a  man  was  to  be  ordained. 

"  He  is  from  the  State  of  Vermont,"  the  squire  replied  ; 
"and  his  name  is  Mr.  Eldridge.  He  was  educated  at 
Yale  College,  and  pursued  his  theological  studies  at  An- 
dover.  I  believe  he  is  twenty-nine  years  of  age,  and  comes 
recommended  by  the  professors  as  a  young  gentleman  of 
high  talents,  extensive  acquirements,  and  ardent  piety. 
He  has  been  preaching  here  about  four  months ;  and  I 
must  say  I  never  heard  many  better  sermons  from  a  young 
man,  or  sermons  better  delivered  from  any  man." 

"That  is  saying  considerable,  father,"  Charles  observed  ; 
"for  few  individuals  have  seen  more  of  ministers  than 
yourself,  or  have  heard  more  preach." 

"  Well,  I  acknowledge,"  returned  the  squire,  "  I  am  very 
much  carried  away  with  Mr.  Eldridge,  and  am  very  happy 
that  he  is  to  be  our  minister." 

"  How  is  he  out  of  the  pulpit  ?  "  asked  Charles. 

"  0,  he  is  very  sociable  and  dignified,  and  interests  the 
entire  family  he  visits." 

"  Is  he  married  ?  "  asked  Ann  of  Mrs.  Davidson. 

"  No,  not  yet,"  was  the  answer. 


20  A   VOICE   PROM  THE   PARSONAGE. 

"He  is  engaged,  then,  is  he  not?" 

"  Yes,"  said  the  squire  ;  "  he  is  engaged  ;  and  I  am 
glad  of  it." 

"  Why  are  you  glad  ?  "  Ann  inquired. 

"  Because,  if  he  were  not  engage'd,  all  the  young  ladies 
in  the  parish  would  be  thinking  of  their  own  prospects  for 
the  prize,  and  there  might  be  a  door  opened  for  trouble," 
replied  the  squire,  as  he  turned  a  significant  look  at  his 
youngest  daughter,  a  young  lady  of  nineteen  years,  who 
sat  at  the  table. 

Breakfast  being  over,  and  family  worship  having  been 
observed,  Mrs.  Davidson  excused  herself  from  the  circle 
by  remarking,  her  domestic  cares  at  this  particular  time 
demanded  her  attention  in  another  part  of  the  house.  As 
she  left  the  room  Arthur  followed  her,  and  soon  found 
himself  in  the  kitchen.  Here  he  saw  many  things  which 
reminded  him  of  home  and  of  that  particular  season  of 
the  year  before  alluded  to  as  bringing  him  many  sources 
of  happiness.  As  he  saw  what  was  going  on  in  the  prep- 
aration of  pies,  cake,  <fcc.,  he  burst  out,  saying,  — 

"  Grandma,  this  makes  me  think  of  our  Christmas  ;  but 
it  is  not  exactly  like  it  here,"  looking  about  and  eying 
two  female  domestics  busily  at  work. 

"  Why  is  it  not  exactly  like  it,  my  dear  ?  "  asked  the 
grandmother. 

Looking  up,  as  if  he  wished  to  reply  in  a  whisper,  which 
brought  down  the  ear" of  Mrs.  Davidson  to  Arthur's  head, 
he  said,  — 

"  We  don't  have  whit%people  to  do  our  work,  grandma  ; 
we  have  black  servants." 

Mrs.  Davidson  pleasantly  remarked,  — 

"  Yes,  Arthur,  I  know  you  have  black  servants  at  the 
south  ;  but  I  don't  care  about  having  such  here." 

"  Why  not,  grandma  ?  "  inquired  Arthur. 

Mrs.  Davidson  went  on  and  told  her  grandson  many 


OKDINATION.  21 

reasons  for  not  wishing  the  labor  of  slaves ;  which  only 
drew  from  Arthur  the  general  reply,  that  his  father's  ser- 
vants were  not  treated  in  the  manner  described,  but  art- 
lessly said  he  knew  of  some  masters  and  mistresses  on  the 
plantations  in  the  district  where  he  lived  who  did  treat 
their  slaves  pretty  much  as  grandma  had  said. 

Arthur,  having  sufficiently  satisfied  his  curiosity  in  the 
kitchen,  went  out  of  the  back  door  into  the  yard  in  quest 
of  other  objects  of  amusement  on  the  premises. 

As  the  family  were  sitting  in  the  parlor  after  dinner, 
engaged  in  social  chat  on  various  matters,  the  hall  door 
was  opened,  and  Mr.  Eldridge,  the  pastor  elect,  was  an- 
nounced. After  being  received  by  the  squire  and  his 
lady  with  great  cordiality  and  introduced  to  their  chil- 
dren from  the  south,  they  all  sat  together  interchanging 
remarks  on  different  subjects  for  a  considerable  time.  It 
was  evident  to  the  spectator  that  both  Charles  and  his 
wife  were  very  warmly  interested  in  the  appearance  and 
conversation  of  Mr.  Eldridge,  which  they  unmistakably 
evinced  in  the  earnestness  with  which  they  seconded  the 
invitation  of  the  squire,  that  he  would  prolong  his  visit, 
when  he  arose  to  leave,  and  favor  them  with  further  pleas- 
ure from  his  society  by  stopping  to  tea.  But  the  morrow 
being  ordination  day,  all  saw  the  propriety  of  his  reasons 
for  being  in  undisturbed  meditation  during  the  evening ; 
and  he  withdrew.  The  door  had  scarcely  closed  after 
him  as  he  passed  into  the  hall  before  Charles  exclaimed, — 

"  What  a  wonderful  young  man  that  Mr.  Eldridge  is ! 
How  easy  and  graceful  his  manners !  how  at  home  he  is  on 
almost  every  subject!  and  withal  how  he  makes  prominent, 
and  without  any  ostentation  too,  the  minister  1  I  declare, 
I  wish  we  had  him  at  the  south." 

"  Well,"  the  squire  remarked,  "  he  makes  the  same  im- 
pression almost  every  where." 

"  What  an  eye  he  has !  what  a  pleasant  voice !  I  dare 
say  he  is  an  orator,"  continued  Charles. 


22  A  VOICE   FROM  THE   PARSONAGE. 

So  much  enraptured  was  Charles  with  Mr.  Eldridge 
that  it  was  difficult  for  him,  during  the  entire  evening,  to 
avoid  introducing  his  name  and  manifesting  his  pleasing 
impressions  in  regard  to  him.  He  was  almost  impatient 
for  the  ensuing  morning,  that  he  might  have  an  opportu- 
nity of  seeing  him  in  circumstances  which  would,  if  any 
circumstances  could,  draw  out  the  whole  man. 

The  morrow  came,  and  it  was  one  of  June's  most  lovely 
days.  Nature  around  seemed  to  smile  auspiciously  on  the 
scenes  in  prospect ;  and  gratefully  were  the  hearts  in  the 
household  of  Squire  Davidson  impressed  towards  the  gra- 
cious Author  of  the  seasons  for  furnishing  such  a  day  for 
such  a  purpose.  All  were  in  readiness  for  breakfast  at  an 
earlier  hour  than  usual,  to  be  prepared  for  the  council 
which  was  to  assemble  in  the  noble  mansion  at  half  past 
eight  o'clock. 

As  many  individuals  in  the  parish  had  friends  abroad 
who  were  strong  in  their  attachments  to  their  respective 
pastors,  and,  by  reason  of  this  strong  attachment,  had  been 
brought  thither  for  relaxation  and  health,  and  had  made 
deep  impressions  on  the  people  in  the  parish,  it  was  there- 
fore natural  that  such  should  be  invited  on  the  council ; 
and  for  this  reason  was  this  body  unusually  large,  as  com- 
mon usage  required  the  extension  of  an  invitation  to  the 
adjacent  churches.  The  council,  at  the  appointed  hour, 
was  organized,  and  the  great  business  of  its  assembly  at 
the  mansion  at  once  commenced  ;  viz.,  the  examination  of 
the  candidate.  The  moderator  proposed  leading  questions 
on  the  fundamental  doctrines  of  Scripture,  which  were 
promptly  and  most  intelligently  answered.  There  was 
such  fulness  of  reply  and  such  nicety  of  discrimination, 
that,  when  the  examination  became  general  and  each  mem- 
ber of  the  council  had  the  privilege  to  interrogate,  all 
were  eager  to  propose  questions,  not  so  much  for  satisfy- 
ing themselves  of  the  fitness  of  the  candidate  for  the  great 


ORDINATION.  23 

work  before  him  as  to  refresh  their  own  minds  with  many 
a  train  of  pleasing  reflection  on  different  truths  of  revela- 
tion, which  his  replies  gave  them  the  fullest  opportunity 
for  doing.  When  the  examination  touched  on  the  re- 
ligious character  of  the  young  man,  his  personal  experi- 
ence of  the  power  of  those  great  truths  he  designed  to 
preach,  his  views  in  entering  on  the  onerous  work  of 
the  ministry,  it  came  out  to  the  satisfaction  of  every  mind 
that  he  had  felt  the  plague  of  sin  in  his  own  bosom,  and 
that,  for  the  love  he  bore  the  great  Deliverer  of  the  sinner, 
he  wished  most  ardently  to  be  instrumental  in  glorifying 
him,  in  beseeching  his  fellow-men,  in  his  stead,  to  be 
reconciled  to  God.  It  appeared  that  no  earthly  rewards 
had  influenced  him  in  the  choice  of  his  profession,  and  that 
his  only  motive  seemed  to  be,  to  aid  in  the  salvation  of 
his  fellow-sinners.  He  seemed  to  be  happy  in  his  pros- 
pects of  usefulness  in  the  field  where  he  had  been  called 
to  labor,  and,  by  more  than  one  remark,  left  the  impression 
on  those  who  heard  him  that  he  expected  to  live  and  die 
among  the  people  of  his  first  love. 

The  examination  closed  with  the  warm  and  unanimous 
decision  of  the  council  to  go  forward  and  set  him  apart 
as  the  minister  of  the  church  and  pastor  of  the  people. 

Whilst  the  council  was  engaged  in  the  preliminary  work 
of  the  day,  little  Arthur  was  busy  at  one  of  the  windows 
watching  the  carriages  which  passed  his  grandfather's 
house  in  thick  succession  towards  the  church  where  tho 
public  services  were  to  take  place.  So  great  was  their 
number  that  he  declared  he  never  saw  so  many  horses  be- 
fore in  all  his  life  ;  and  he  wondered  where  the  people 
came  from  who  were  being  conveyed  by  them. 

When  the  council  had  adjourned  to  the  church,  to  en- 
gage in  ordination  services,  Arthur  was  wide  awake 
in  his  movements  over  the  house,  and  was  particularly  at- 
tentive to  the  kitchen  ;  for  here  he  saw  very  much  more 


24          A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

of  "  merry  Christmas "  than  on  the  preceding  day.  As 
the  council  was  to  dine  at  his  grandfather's,  the  note  of 
preparation  was  neither  low  nor  slow ;  and  it  was  a  matter 
of  no  small  wonderment  to  him  what  was  to  become  of  all 
the  puddings  he  saw,  as  well  as  of  the  chickens,  turkeys, 
&c.  He  thought  ordination  day  was  far  before  his  Christ- 
mas ;  and  frequently  wished  he  could  live  here  in  New  Eng- 
land, that  he  might  enjoy  many  such  days. 

A  little  after  two  o'clock  the  noise  of  carriages  began 
again  to  be  heard  ;  for  the  great  event  had  passed,  and 
the  people  were  dispersing  for  dinner.  Little  Arthur  was 
there  at  the  windows  and  doors,  highly  excited  at  the 
velocity  with  which  carriage  after  carriage  was  drawn 
along  the  road.  Whilst  he  was  thus  engaged  he  turned 
to  aunt  Sarah,  who  was  sitting  by,  and  inquired  if  all  the 
people  who  passed  along  lived  in  town. 

"  0,  no,"  she  replied  ;  "  not  a  quarter  of  them." 

"  Will  they  all  go  home  to  dinner?  " 

"  I  presume  not,"  aunt  Sarah  said. 

"  Where  will  they  get  their  dirfner,  then,  aunt  Sarah  ?  " 

"  0,  they  will  get  it  at  their  friends',  who  live  in  the 
parish.  Every  house  will  have  more  or  less  of  them  ;  for 
all  the  people  are  expecting  company  to-day." 

"  Well,  they'll  have  a  good  time  of  it,  won't  they,  aunt 
Sarah?" 

At  this  juncture  those  who  were  to  dine  at  Squire  Da- 
vidson's began  to  enter  the  house ;  and  soon  three  large 
rooms,  with  extended  tables  spread  therein,  had  a  numer- 
ous company  of  guests  busily  at  work  on  what  little  Ar- 
thur had  seen  in  the  kitchen  in  the  morning.  Whilst  thus 
attending  to  their  bodily  wants  there  was  no  lack  of  intel- 
lectual activity ;  for  remark  was  frequently  heard  from 
different  parts  of  the  tables  upon  the  various  performances 
at  the  church  which  the  people  had  so  lately  left.  The 
company  seemed  to  be  of  one  mind  as  to  the  high  order 


ORDINATION.  25 

of  talent  which  these  varied  services  brought  forth,  as  well 
as  to  their  peculiar  appropriateness  and  solemnity.  So 
much  impressed  were  they  with  their  rich  excellence,  that, 
for  upwards  of  an  hour  after  the  tables  had  well  minis- 
tered to  their  necessities  of  body,  they  continued  their 
conversation  upon  what  they  had  heard  and  upon  subjects 
in  illustration  of  the  different  truths  which  had  been  pre- 
sented. 

Then,  sitting  and  standing  a  while  in  conversation  on 
other  topics,  the  company  began  one  after  another  to 
leave  ;  and,  before  the  sun  went  down,  all  but  three  clergy- 
men had  left,  and  the  family  of  the  squire  was  restored 
almost  to  its  usual  quietude. 

In  the  evening,  the  scenes  of  the  day  furnished  the 
themes  of  conversation  in  the  family  of  the  squire. 
Whilst  all  were  highly  interested  in  the  different  parts  of 
the  public  services  of  the  ordination,  —  the  prayers,  the  ser- 
mon, charge,  right  hand  of  fellowship,  —  it  was  evident  that 
what  made  the  deepest  impression  was  the  manner  in  which 
their  new  pastor  acquitted  himself  at  his  examination  in 
the  morning.  From  this  it  was  argued  that  his  usefulness 
would  not  be  small  nor  his  reputation  narrowly  bounded, 
and  that  all  the  parish  might  well  rejoice  that  such  an 
ascension  gift  had  thus  been  conferred  as  existed  in  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Eldridge. 

On  the  Sabbath  following  the  ordination,  the  pastor 
was  very  happy  in  the  choice  of  subjects  most  appropriate 
to  the  new  relations  which  had  been  recently  consummated. 
It  was  most  affecting  to  hear  him  speak  of  the  responsi- 
bility which  attached  to  his  duty  of  preaching  and  to  the 
duty  of  his  people  of  hearing  the  word.  It  was  evident 
that  he  had  large  expectations  of  usefulness  in  his  present 
charge,  and  that  it  was  his  long  and  settled  determination 
to  employ  his  various  researches  and  attainments  for  the 
-emporal  and  eternal  good  of  those  who  might  be  commit- 
3 


26  A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PABSONAGE. 

i 

ted  to  his  spiritual  care.  It  was  evident,  too,  that  t?io 
new  pastor  contemplated  his  present  field  of  labor  as  his 
only  charge,  and  that  he  relied  for  permanency  and  suc- 
cess on  the  power  of  God,  as  such  aid  might  be  vouch- 
safed in  answer  to 'his  own  and  his  people's  earnest  and 
persevering  supplication  at  the  throne  of  grace.  The 
pastor  was  trustful  to  the  promises  of  his  Savior  and  to 
the  pledges  of  the  people  who  had  called  him  to  labor  in 
the  midst  of  them ;  and,  by  reason  of  such  trust,  he  re- 
marked, in  his  morning  discourse,  he  should  lay  broad  his 
plans  for  extensive. and  permanent  usefulness  among  them. 
"I  have  not  sought  wealth  as  my  portion,  nor  honor,  nor 
ease ;  but  the  glory  of  Christ  in  the  salvation  of  souls. 
For  nearly  ten  years  have  I  been  preparing  for  the  great 
and  responsible  work  on  which  I  have  now  entered,  and 
nearly  two  thousand  dollars  have  I  expended  whilst  mak- 
ing-this  preparation.  And  no w^ have  I  been  sent  hither  to 
make  proof  of  my  ministry  to  you  ;  and  here  by  the  grace 
of  God  will  I  labor,  relying  on  the  good  faith  of  the  peo- 
ple who  have  called  me  and  on  those  promises  of  Jehovah 
to  his  faithful  servants  which  are  neither  few  nor  small." 
As  might  be  expected,  his  discourse,  containing  many 
such  paragraphs  as  the  above,  when  speaking  of  the  scrip- 
tural duties  of  the  pastor  and  people,  made  a  deep  impres- 
sion on  many  a  heart ;  and  it  is  fair  to  presume  that  from 
more  than  one  bosom  went  forth  the  prayer  that  the  large 
expectations  of  the  pastor  might  be  more  than  realized. 


CHAPTER    II 

MARRIAGE  AND   COMMENCEMENT  OP   HOUSEKEEPING. 

ABOUT  six  weeks  from  his  ordination  Mr.  Eldridge  made 
a  visit  at  the  house  of  Squire  Davidson.  After  mingling 
a  while  with  the  members  of  the  family,  who  were  sitting 
together  in  the  parlor,  he  signified  to  the  squire  a  desire 
to  confer  with  him  in  private.  Upon  the  compliance  with 
this  request,  after  the  two  had  withdrawn  from  the  circle, 
a  wonderment  on  the  part  of  the  ladies  was  at  once  ex- 
pressed of  the  object  of  the  interview.  Various  causes 
were  conjectured.  Mrs.  Davidson  thought  there  might  be 
a  difficulty  somewhere  in  the  parish  at  which  Mr.  Eldridge 
was  disturbed  ;  for  she  well  remembered  the  frequency 
with  which  their  late  pastor  had  called  and  sought  the  ad- 
Vice  of  her  husband  in  private  in  relation  to  the  troubles 
which  were  thick  about  him.  Aunt  Sarah  was  not  so 
fearful.  She  did  not  believe  any  such  reason  had  prompt- 
ed the  young  pastor  to  seek  an  interview  with  her  brother. 
It  was  her  opinion  that  he  wished  to  disclose  some  plans 
whereby  his  general  usefulness  in  the  parish  might  be 
greatly  augmented.  She  remarked, — 

"  I  always  thought,  if  Mr.  Eldridge  should  settle  with 
us,  that  he  would  devise  some  new  ways  for  benefiting  his 
people,  and  yet  would  be  cautious  how  he  proceeded.  I 
rather  guess  he  wanted  to  consult  with  brother  in  relation 
to  some  of  his  plans." 

C27) 


28          A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

Here  Ann  laughed  aloud,  and  remarked,  in  apology  for 
her  merriment,  — 

"  I  always  have  heard  that  the  Yankees  were  noted  for 
guessing.  Since  I  have  been  in  New  England  1  have 
heard  the  expression  similar  to  the  one  aunt  Sarah  has 
now  used  so  often  that  it  is  difficult  for  me  to  restrain  a 
smile  whenever  it  is  repeated." 

"  Don't  people  guess  any  at  the  south  ?  "  aunt  Sarah 
inquired. 

"  I  presume  they  do,"  was  the  reply  ;  "  but  they  do  not 
use  the  word  guess  as  you  use  it  here.  I  do  not  know 
that  I  ever  heard  a  southerner  say,  '  I  guess  so  and  so.' " 

"No,  aunty,"  Charles  observed  ;  "we  southerners  don't 
guess  any." 

"  That's  pretty  well  for  you,  husband,"  remarked  Ann. 
"  I  wonder  what  Mr.  Carl  ton  would  say  if  he  were  here." 

"  What  would  he  say  ?  "  Charles  asked. 

"  You  know,  my  dear,  how  much  he  enjoys  himself  over 
your  Yankee  expressions,  and  especially  when  he  hears 
you  say,  'I  guess.'" 

"  Then  they  use  the  term  reproachfully  at  the  south  ?  " 
aunt  Sarah  remarked. 

"  Not  exactly  so,  aunt,"  Ann  replied  ;  "  but  we  always 
know  a  Yankee  before  we  have  been  in  his  society  five 
minutes,  because  the  expression,  '  I  guess,'  is  sure  to  be 
made  within  that  period." 

"  Well,"  said  Charles,  "  I  would  really  like  to  know 
what  the  minister  wants  of  father.  I  wish  he  would  come 
in  and  favor  us  with  his  society." 

Though  many  speculations  were  afloat  in  the  circle  in 
relation  to  the  interview  of  the  pastor  with  the  squire,  yet 
all  failed  to  satisfy.  There  was  therefore  a  general  im- 
patience for  its  termination,  that  relief  to  their  anxiety 
might  be  afforded  by  the  lips  of  the  squire  himself.  This 
time  did  not  quickly  come  ;  nor  till  long  after  the  usual 


MARRIAGE   AND    HOUSEKEEPING.  29 

hour  for  tea  was  suspense  removed  by  the  presence  of  the 
squire  in  the  room  from  which  he  had  been  absent  for  up- 
wards of  three  hours. 

"  What  has  closeted  you  all  this  afternoon  with  Mr. 
Eldridge  ?  "  was  the  quick  inquiry  of  Mrs.  Davidson  of 
her  husband. 

"Important  business"  was  the   reply  gravely  returned. 

So  sober  was  the  utterance  and  manner  of  the  squire 
that  Mrs.  Davidson  was  certain  of  being  the  correct  in- 
terpreter of  the  reason  of  the  interview,  and  she  almost 
tearfully  asked  what  were  the  difficulties  which  were  per- 
plexing and  trying  the  young  pastor. 

"  His  trouble  is  pretty  great  and  serious,  and " 

"  0,  what  is  it  ?  What  is  it  ?  What  is  his  trouble  ?  " 
asked  four  or  five  voices  at  once,  thus  preventing  the 
squire  from  completing  the  sentence. 

"  Mr.  Eldridge  wishes  to  be  married  and  to  go  to  house- 
keeping, but  he  cannot  find  a  house,"  the  squire  remarked. 

On  this  reply,  sighs,  which  before  were  heavy  and  nu- 
merous, suddenly  were  exchanged  for  peals  of  laughter 
which  almost  shook  the  room. 

"  You  are  too  cruel,  Mr.  Davidson,"  said  his  wife,  when 
she  was  recovered  from  her  laughing  sufficiently  to  speak  ; 
"  you  are  too  cruel,"  she  said,  still  smiling  in  tears.  "How 
could  you  act  so  when  you  saw  how  we  all  felt  ?  " 

"  You  asked  me,  my  dear,  for  the  trouble  which  was 
perplexing  Mr.  Eldridge  ;  and  before  I  had  time  to  give 
an  intelligent  reply,  which  I  was  proceeding  to  do,  you 
all  became  so  excited  and  were  so  loud  in  your  inquiries 
that  I  was  somewhat  embarrassed.  Did  I  not  explain  as 
soon  as  I  had  opportunity  ?  " 

"  But  then  you  looked  so  sober,  father,"  said  Ann,  "  that 
we  could  not  feel  otherwise  than  excited." 

"  Well," said  the  squire,  "is  not  Mr.  Eldridge  in  trouble  ? 
I  think  he  is.  I  am  sorry  that  you  have  so  poor  an  opin- 

a* 


30  A  VOICE   FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

ion  of  our  people  as  to  think  that  there  were  any  parish 
troubles  for  him  thus  early  in  his  connection  with  us." 

"  You  know,  husband,"  Mrs.  Davidson  remarked,  "  how 
often  our  late  pastor  used  to  come  to  see  you  about  the 
difficulties  with  him  ;  and  it  was  natural  for  me  to  fear 
that  some  such  reason  might  have  prompted  the  desire  cf 
Mr.  Eldridge  to  see  you  in  private  ;  and  I  said  to  the 
children  that  I  was  apprehensive  Mr.  Eldridge  had  heard 
something  said  to  his  disadvantage,  and  was  somewhat  dis- 
turbed, and  wished  for  your  counsel." 

"  Well,"  said  the  squire,  "my  dear,  you  see  the  trouble 
is  not  very  formidable." 

"  O,  yes,"  Mrs.  Davidson  replied  ;  "yes,  yes.  I  think 
such  a  trouble  can  easily  be  removed.  He  can  have  our 
Allen  house." 

"  How  so  ?  "  the  squire  asked.  "  Mr.  Tucker  has  a 
lease  of  it  for  two  years,  you  know ;  and  it  is  not  six 
months  since  he  moved  into  it.  Well,  that  is  the  only 
house  near  the  church  which  will  accommodate  Mr.  El- 
dridge ;  and  that  is  the  house  he  wants.  He  told  me  Dea- 
con Smith  suggested  that  I  might  arrange  it  with  Mr. 
Tucker  so  that  he  would  vacate  it  and  move  to  the  new 
house  of  ours  on  the  Gray  lot.  I  finally  told  Mr.  Eldridge 
I  would  see  what  could  be  done  for  him." 

"  How  soon  does  he  wish  for  a  house  ?  "  Ann  inquired. 

"  Within  two  months,"  the  squire  replied. 

"  I  suppose,  father,  you  now  know  who  the  lady  is  to 
whom  Mr.  Eldridge  is  to  be  married,"  Frances  said,  the 
squire's  youngest  daughter,  alluded  to  in  the  previous 
chapter. 

"  Yes,  my  daughter  ;  it  is  no  longer  a  secret.  He  told 
me  her  name  and  all  about  her,  and  gave  me  permission  to 
use  my  knowledge  at  my  discretion.  She  is  the  daughter 
of  a  farmer  in  the  State  of  New  York  by  the  name  of 
Whiting.  She  is  twenty-two  years  old,  and,  Mr.  Eldridgo 


MARRIAGE  AND   HOUSEKEEPING.  31 

Rays,  is  well  educated,  of  good  sense,  intelligent,  and  a 
very  devoted  and  active  Christian." 

"  I  presume  she  is  a  suitable  companion  for  him,"  Mrs. 
Davidson  remarked,  "  or  he  would  not  have  selected  her." 

"  I  hope  she  will  be  a  suitable  wife  for  the  minister  of 
our  parish,"  aunt  Sarah  said.  "  Our  people  are  rather 
particular,  you  know,  about  the  wife  of  their  minister." 

"  We  shall  soon  see  her,  I  hope,"  the  squire  observed. 
"  I  shall  go  in  the  morning  and  see  Mr.  Tucker,  to  ascer- 
tain if  he  will  move." 

"  I  presume  he  will,"  Frances  remarked.  "  He  is  a  very 
accommodating  and  reasonable  man,  and  thinks  every 
thing  of.his  pastor." 

The  next  morning  the  squire  called  upon  Mr.  Tucker 
and  made  known  to  him  the  situation  of  Mr.  Eldridge,  and 
directly  asked  him  if  he  would  be  the  means  of  early  in- 
troducing Mrs.  Eldridge  to  the  parish.  After  a  few  mo- 
ments' deliberation  he  expressed  his  readiness  to  move  if 
his  wife  would  consent ;  but  suggested  that  he  thought  she 
might  not  be  disposed,  as  she  was  now  well  satisfied  with 
her  house.  The  matter  being  laid^  before  her  by  Mr.  Tucker 
and  the  squire,  she  at  once  manifested  an  unwillingness  to 
leave  her  present  abode.  However,  after  further  consul- 
tation and  by  a  liberal  offer'  the  squire  made  Mr.  Tucker 
if  he  would  accommodate  Mr.  Eldridge  with  the  house, 
his  wife  finally  yielded,  and  the  Allen  house  would  shortly 
be  vacated.  The  squire  returned  home  and  despatched  a 
note  to  his  pastor,  acquainting  him  with  his  success  and 
that  he  could  occupy  the  wished-for  house  at  his  own  con- 
venience and  pleasure. 

In  about  six  weeks  from  this  period  there  might  have 
been  seen  new  furniture  carried  into  the  Allen  house,  and 
various  other  indications  of  an  approaching  important 
event  in  the  history  of  the  new  pastor.  The  Sabbath  fol- 
lowing these  indications  Mr.  Eldridge  was  not  in  his 


32          A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

pulpit,  and  his  place  was  supplied  by  a  stranger.  Rumor 
from  a  hundred  tongues  had  it  that  the  pastor  had  gone  to 
be  married.  However  false  and  deceitful  in  relation  to 
ministerial  matters  this  dame  often  is,  yet  in  the  present 
instance  of  her  cry  her  report  was  soon  confirmed  ;  for 
on  the  next  Sabbath  the  parish  pew  —  which  had  never 
known  other  occupants  than  such  as  were  attached  to  the 
pastor's  household  —  was  in  the  occupancy  of  two  ladies 
and  a  gentleman,  who,  before  the  services  in  the  afternoon 
had  commenced,  were  generally  known  as  being  the  pas- 
tor's wife  and  her  brother  and  sister.  It  was  amusing  to 
notice  the  glance  of  the  eyes  as  they  were  directed  from 
almost  every  part  of  the  house  to  the  slip  where  these 
strangers  were  seated.  Even  the  little  boys  and  girls 
from  the  galleries  might  be  seen  every  now  and  then  rising 
up  and  bending  their  heads  and  backs  down  below  to 
catch  a  glimpse  of  the  object  of  general  curiosity.  Nor 
was  all  attention  confined  to  the  pew.  There  seemed  to 
be  an  unwonted  attraction  in  the  pulpit ;  and  the  pastor 
had,  if  not  more  attention  than  formerly,  yet  attention 
from  motives  which  had  not  before  influenced  the  hearers. 
This  attention  abated  not  from  the  commencement  to  the 
close  of  his  services  ;  for  there  were  many  there  watching 
for  blushes,  if  not  for  allusions  to  the  new  scenes  on  which 
he  had  lately  entered.  He,  however,  evinced  both  his  sense 
and  his  thoughts  of  something  beyond  what  was  passing 
in  the  minds  of  many  of  his  auditors.  After  the  manner 
of  many  of  his  brethren  in  similar  circumstances,  Mr.  El- 
dridge  did  not  take  for  his  text,  "  I  am  the  rose  of  Sharon, 

and is  the  lily  of  the  valley  ;  "  nor,  "  He  setteth  the 

solitary  in  families  ; "  nor,  "  I  have  married  a  wife."  Nor 
was  his  subject  the  government  of  a  household,  which  some 
clergymen  have  been  known  to  discuss  on  the  first  Sab- 
bath of  their  appearance  in  the  house  of  God  with  a  wife. 
Mr.  Eldridge  wisely  avoided  all  such  themes,  and  so  went 


MARRIAGE  AND    HOUSEKEEPING.  33 

through  with  the  various  services  of  the  day,  that  a 
stranger  present  left  the  house  unimpressed  that  any  thing 
had  happened  to  the  pastor  of  late  more  than  a  new  unc- 
tion from  the  holy 'One. 

Upon  the  conclusion  of  the  services  and  when  the  con- 
gregation were  in  motion,  there  were  more  than  the  usual 
groups  along  the  aisles,  in  the  entry,  on  the  steps,  and  in 
the  yard  of  the  church.  It  was,  therefore,  unavoidable  < 
not  to  overhear  some  of  the  conversation  which  was  so 
eagerly  escaping  ;  and  much  that  was  heard  pertained  to 
the  marriage  of  the  minister  and  the  appearance  of  the 
wife.  "  Did  you  see  her  ?  "  might  often  be  heard.  Like- 
wise, "How  do  you  like  her  looks?"  "I  guess  she'll  an- 
swer," <fcc. 

In  the  evening  at  Squire  Davidson's,  the  Connecticut 
custom  in  that  family  prevailing  of  "keeping  Saturday 
night,"  the  conversation .  turned  on  the  pastor  and  wife 
and  such  remarks  of  the  people  concerning  them  as  had 
that  day  been  heard.  The  squire's  pew,  being  at  the 
right  of  the  pulpit,  afforded  a  fine  view  of  the  one  occupied 
by  the  family  of  the  clergyman,  so  that  the  eye  would  in- 
voluntarily fall  upon  the  latter  from  the  former.  The 
Davidsons,  therefore,  could  notice,  without  any  particular 
effort,  the  countenance,  dress,  deportment,  &c.,  of  the  pas- 
tor's wife. 

Ann,  in  answer  to  the  question  addressed  to  her  by  her 
husband,  "  What  did  you  think  of  the  appearance  of  Mrs. 
Eldridge?"  remarked, — 

"  I  was  somewhat  disappointed  ;  she  did  not  appear  as 
I  expected." 

"What  was  the  matter?"  Charles  asked.  "Was  she 
not  as  handsome  as  you  had  supposed  ?  or  was  she  not 
dressed  so  elegantly?" 

"  There  was  nothing  very  elegant  about  her   dress," 


34  A  VOICE   FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

Frances  remarked.  "  I  wonder  if  she  was  married  in  that 
dress.  I  presume,  however,  she  was  not." 

"  What  kind  of  a  dress  had  she  on  ?  "  aunt  Sarah  in- 
quired. 

"  It  was  a  light-colored,  figured  silk,  aunt,  very  plainly 
made,  and  did  not  appear  like  a  wedding  garment,"  Fran- 
ces replied.  % 

"  I  rather  think  it  was  her  wedding  dress,"  Mrs.  David- 
son observed  :  "  and  it  was  no  ordinary  one  either,  if  I  am 
any  judge.  It  is  true,  it  was  not  trimmed  in  the  very 
height  of  fashion  ;  but  I  dare  say  it  cost  much  more  than 
many  a  dress  which  you,  Frances,  would  decide  to  be  far 
more  expensive.  It  was  a  very  suitable  dress,  and  I  ad- 
mired it  very  much  indeed." 

"  What  did  you  think  of  her  bonnet,  Frances  ?  "  Charles 
asked. 

"  0,"  Frances  said,  "  I  thought  that  was  very  beautiful." 

"  What  did  you  think  of  her  face,  daughter  ?  "  asked  the 
Bquire. 

"She  has  no  beauty  to  spare,"  Frances  replied. 

"  Was  there  no  beauty  in  her  eye,  my  daughter  ?  "  the 
squire  continued. 

"  I  thought  she  had  a  rather  pleasant  eye,  father." 

"  Yes,  I  thought  so  too,"  the  squire  observed  ;  "  and  I 
thought  that  she  appeared  remarkably  well.  I  have  no 
doubt  that  she  is  a  lady  of  very  good  sense  and  worthy 
of  the  position  in  which  she  is  now  placed." 

"  Yes,"  added  Mrs.  Davidson  ;  "  that  is  my  opinion.  I 
was  very  much  pleased  with  all  that  I  saw.  Every  thing 
about  her  indicated  worth,  and  made  me  anxious  to  be- 
come acquainted  with  her." 

"  They  will  have  a  levee  soon,  will  they  not,  father," 
Charles  inquired,  "  to  afford  the  people  an  opportunity  to 
be  introduced  to  their  minister's  wife?" 


MARRIAGE  AND    HOUSEKEEPING.  35 

"  There  will  be  something  of  the  kind,  I  presume,  from 
a  remark  made  to  me  by  Mr.  Eldridge  yesterday,"  the 
squire  said.  "  He  remarked,  he  thought  it  might  be  well 
for  the  people  to  become  acquainted  with  his  wife  at  once, 
and  he  had  concluded  to  give  a  general  invitation,  to  all 
to  visit  them  next  week,  Tuesday." 

The  Tuesday  came,  and  the  invitation  to  the  parsonage 
was  very  generally  accepted  by  the  people  of  the  parish. 
The  entire  house  was  thrown  open,  and  the  good  ladies 
had  the  privilege  of  going  whither  they  pleased  to  notice 
all  the  furniture  and  conveniences  of  the  premises.  Mrs.  El- 
dridge was  introduced  to  all,  and  acquitted  herself  to  the 
entire  satisfaction  of  that  portion  of  the  parish  represented 
by  such  individuals  as  Squire  Davidson  and  wife.  There 
were  those  present,  however,  who  took  exceptions  to  her 
character  and  appearance.  Some  affected  to  think  she 
was  not  equal  to  her  position  because  she  did  not  dis- 
close all  that  she  knew  at  once.  The  reserve,  ever  the 
mark  of  merit  and  the  ornament  of  character  when  it  ap- 
pears in  a  stranger  placed  in  circumstances  like  those 
which  then  surrounded  the  young  wife  of  the  pastor,  was 
interpreted  as  the  result  of  inability  to  converse.  Some 
thought  Mrs.  Eldridge  was  not  sufficiently  respectful  to 
her  company  because  her  dress  was  not  all  puffs,  laces, 
and  embroidery.  Some  thought  she  was  too  old  womanish 
because  her  attentions  were  so  many  to  the  aged  who 
were  around  her.  Some  thought  she  was  small  and  con- 
tracted, because,  in  providing  for  the  comfort  and  pleasure 
of  her  guests,  her  own  hands  sometimes  aided  and  not 
those  of  a  servant  always.  The  good  young  wife  little 
thought  of  the  variety  of  remark  of  which  she  was  the 
subject  in  the  little  circles  which  were  forming  in  different 
rooms  by  the  people  who  were  passing  to  and  fro  about  the 
house  ;  and,  had  she  been  all  the  while  conscious  of  the 
scrutiny  which  was  constantly  upon  her,  her  movements 


36  A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

could  not  have  been  more  judicious  nor  her  speech  more 
becoming  in  the  view  of  such  as  were  competent  to  pass 
an  opinion  in  any  way  entitled  to  regard. 

The  company  continued  till  a  suitable  hour  in  the  even- 
ing, when  the  pastor  made  some  fitting  remarks,  closing 
them  with  prayer.  Then  the  more  advanced  in  years  be- 
gan to  retire,  and  the  remainder  followed  their  example  ; 
and  soon  the  house  showed  only  the  confusion  of  chairs 
and  fragments  of  refreshments,  some  on  tables,  some  on 
carpets  and  window  casements,  that  significantly  admon- 
ished Mrs.  Eldridge  what  might  be  her  employment  on  the 
morrow  if  not  on  the  day  succeeding  that. 

About  four  weeks  from  this  gathering  at  the  parsonage 
there  was  a  small  company  at  the  house  of  Deacon  Smith, 
invited  out  of  respect  to  the  pastor  and  wife.  The  David- 
sons were  there,  and  some  others  about  the  "  centre,"  and 
the  others  were  from  families  in  the  immediate  vicinage  of 
the  deacon.  In  the  course  of  the  afternoon  many  of  the 
company  found  themselves  remarking  upon  the  manner  in 
which  Mrs.  Eldridge  was  received  and  upon  different 
opinions  that  had  been  expressed  respecting  her.  At 
length  Mrs.  Davidson  and  Mrs.  Smith  were  left  so  near 
each  other  and  so  distant  from  others  that  their  conversa- 
tion could  not  well  be  overheard,  when  Mrs.  Smith  ob- 
served, — 

"  How  foolish  it  is  to  make  such  a  hue  and  cry  because 
Mrs.  Eldridge  has  no  one  to  assist  her  but  that  litile 
girl!" 

"  Ah,"  responded  Mrs.  Davidson,  "  I  have  not  heard 
any  thing  of  it.  You  know  I  have  been  away  three  or 
four  weeks  with  my  husband  to  Connecticut  and  New 
York,  and  I  have  heard  nothing  of  what  has  been  passing 
in  the  parish.  What  do  they  say?" 

"  There  is  much  said,"  Mrs.  Smith  remarked.  "  A  great 
many  don't  like  it  at  all  that  Mrs.  Eldridge  does  not  have 


MARRIAGE   AJM)    HOUSEKEEPING.  37 

a  woman  in  her  family  to  do  her  work.  They  say  her 
sphere  ought  to  be  out  of  the  kitchen  and  abroad  in  the 
parish.  Whilst  she  is  confined  with  domestic  care's  her 
influence  over  the  people  is  lost." 

"  I  cannot  think,-"  said  Mrs.  Davidson,  "  that  there  are 
many  who  feel  thus :  at  least  not  many  sensible  people. 
Only  think,  there  are  but  two  of  them  in  the  family,  and 
the  house  is  so  convenient  that  the  work  is  most  easily 
done.  Who  are  they  who  feel  as  you  describe  ?  " 

"There  are  Mrs.  Gray,  Mrs.  Jones,  Mr.  Otis,  and  many 
others  who  have  said  much  about  it." 

"  Does  Mrs.  Jones  allow  herself  to  censure  Mrs.  El- 
dridge  for  this  ?  "  inquired  Mrs.  Davidson.  "  I  am  aston- 
ished ut  her.  I  am  not  at  all  surprised  that  the  others 
are  disposed  to  find  fault.  I  don't  think  they  are  alto- 
gether prompted  to  their  censures  by  any  strong  desire 
for  Mr,s.  Eldridge's  usefulness  in  the  parish.  Some  other 
feeling  is  with  them." 

"  What  feeling  ?  "  asked  Mrs.  Smith. 
x  "  Pride  has  something  to  do  in  this  matter,"  Mrs.  Da- 
vidson continued,  "and  an  unwillingness  to  have  our  pas- 
tor lay  by  any  thing  from  his  salary.  <  You  know  how 
very  proud  Mrs.  Gray  is.  She  thinks  it  very  derogatory 
in  a  lady,  and  especially  in  a  minister's  wife,  to  do  any 
thing  that  is  menial."  .yL 

"  If  she  thinks  so,"  Mrs.  Smith  observed,  "  it  is  strange 
I  have  never  heard  her  talk  about  you  in  this  respect ;  for 
you  know  you  assist  very  much  in  the  work  of  your  family. 
Perhaps  there  is  no  lady  in  town  who  is  more  conver- 
sant with  the  labors  of  the  kitchen  than  yourself." 

"  I  hope  there  is  none  who  is  less  conversant,"  Mrs.  Da- 
vidson remarked,  "  who  has  a  family  as  large  as  mine.     I 
do  not  know'  how  we  should  get  along  if  we  trusted  en- 
tirely to  servants.     Mrs.  Gray  may  take  exceptions  to  my 
4 


38  A   VOICE  FROM  THE   PARSONAGE. 

course  if  she  pleases,  and  may  rail  about  my  working  in 
the  kitchen  ;  but  I  think  she  will  speak  rather  low,  so  that 
I  shall  not  hear  of  it.  I  cannot  understand  why  Mrs. 
Jones,  who  is  distinguished  for  good  sense,  should  feel  as 
she  does." 

"  There  are  her  daughters,  you  know  ;  and  they  have 
such  feeling  as  that  which  you  say  affects  Mrs.  Gray,"  said 
Mrs.  Smith. 

"  Yes,  0,  yes,"  returned  Mrs.  Davidson  ;  "  that  is  the 
reason,  is  it  not  ?  How  much  Mrs.  Jones  is  influenced  by 
her  daughters ! " 

"  Who  do  you  think  there  is  unwilling  that  our  minis- 
ter should  be  any  the  richer  for  his  salary  ?  "  Mrs.  Smith 
inquired. 

"Mr.  Otis  is,"  Mrs.  Davidson  replied.  "He  objected, 
you  know,  to  giving  Mr.  Eldridge  more  than  six  hundred 
dollars.  When  told  that  such  a  sum  would  be  insufficient, 
he  said  he  could  not  think  but  that  Mr.  Eldridge  might 
live  with  such  a  salary.  He  was  told  that  he  might  possi- 
bly live,  but  that  he  ought  to  do  more  than  barely  make 
the  two  ends  of  the  year  meet  —  he  ought  to  lay  up  a  part 
of  his  income.  To  this  Mr.  Otis  objected  most  earnestly, 
and  said  a  minister  ought  not  to  desire  to  grow  rich  —  he 
ought  not  to  lay  up  a  cent." 

"  That  is  something  new  to  me,"  Mrs.  Smith  remarked. 
"  Mr.  Smith  never  mentioned  this  to  me.  How  very  un- 
feeling, such  a  remark !  Mr.  Otis  must  have  changed  his 
opinion  of  a  minister's  duty  lately,  I  think.  How  he  for- 
merly censured  Mr.  Eldridge's  predecessor  for  his  extrav- 
agance !  How  many  times  I  have  heard  him  say  that  he 
ought  to  look  out  for  a  rainy  day  and  lay  by  something 
for  a  time  of  need  1 " 

"  Ah,  you  li-dl  know  ivhat  Mr.  Otis  is"  Mrs.  Davidson 
said,  with  a  somewhat  elevated  tone,  caused  by  an  excess 
of  feeling. 


MARRIAGE  AND  HOUSEKEEPING.  39 

By  this  remark  the  attention  of  some  of  the  company 
was  arrested,  particularly  that  of  Mrs.  Bates,  an  elderly 
member  of  the  church  and  a  most  worthy  mother  in  Israel. 
Changing  her  position  that  she  might  have  her  curiosity 
gratified  by  being  near  Mrs.  Davidson  and  her  friend,  'sho 
asked,  — 

"  What  is  it  about  Mr.  Otis  ?    Has  he  begun  again  ?  " 

"  Have  you  not  heard,"  inquired  Mrs.  Davidson,  "  that 
some  of  our  people  are  pretty  severe  in  their  remarks 
about  our  minister's  wife  because  she  don't  have  a  hired 
woman  ?  " 

"  0,  yes,"  replied  Mrs.  Bates  ;  "  I  have  heard  of  this  ; 
but  I  do  not  consider  it  worthy  of  notice." 

"I  think  as  you  do,"  said  Mrs.  Davidson. 

"  Now,  I  think,"  continued  Mrs.  Bates,  "  that  I  am  as 
well  informed  in  relation  to  this  matter  as  some  others.  I 
called  upon  Mrs.  Eldridge  last  week,  and,  seeing  a  little 
girl  busily  sewing  there,  I  asked  Mrs.  Eldridge  who  she 
was.  In  reply,  she  said  that  Mr.  Eldridge  and  herself 
had  had  much  conversation  upon  the  matter  of  expenses, 
and  that  he  had  seen  how  often  ministers  had  become  in- 
volved in  great  trouble  by  extravagant  and  injudicious 
expenses  and  by  being  negligent  of  pecuniary  concerns, 
and  that  he  had  determined  to  strive  against  this  source 
of  difficulty  by  being  prudent  and  careful.  In  this  feel- 
ing Mrs.  Eldridge  said  she  most  truly  sympathized  with 
her  husband,  and  she  said  to  him  that  there  was  one  item 
of  expense  which  might  be  avoided  ;  and  that  was,  a 
hired  woman.  She  said  she  told  Mr.  Eldridge  that  if  she 
had  a  little  girl  to  assist  she  might  be  able  to  do  the  work 
of  the  family.  He  started  many  objections  to  this  course. 
He  asked  her  what  she  would  do  when  she,was  invited 
out,  when  the  sewing  circle  met,  &c.  She  told  him  she 
thought  some  way  for  her  .accommodation,  when  it  was 


40  'A  VOICE   FROM  THE   PARSONAGE. 

necessary  for  her  to  be  abroad,  could  be  devised.  Soon 
Mrs.  Eldridge  said  she  had  a  call  from  Mrs.  Darling,  who 
manifested  great  interest  in  their  welfare,  and  regretted 
that  it  was  not  in  her  power  to  contribute  more  towards 
Mr.  Eldridge's  salary.  She  said  that  perhaps  she  could 
assist  her  some  in  sewing,  &c.  Mrs.  Eldridge  then  said' 
that  she  thought  Providence  was  smiling  on  her  endeavors 
at  retrenchment,  and  she  at  once  disclosed  to  Mrs.  Dar- 
ling her  plan  of  dispensing  with  the  services  of  a  hired 
woman  and  of  having  a  little  girl  to  assist  her.  In  such 
circumstances  it  would  be  a  great  favor  to  have  her  come 
in  occasionally  and  assist  her  when  it  was  necessary  for 
her  to  be  abroad.  Mrs.  Darling  assented  most  cheerfully 
to  this  proposition,  and  said,  as  she  lived  so  near,  she  could 
come  in  any  time.  Mrs.  Eldridge  then  told  her  that,  if 
she  thought  it  would  be  in  her  power  thus  to  accommo- 
date her,  she  would  say  to  her  girl  that  she  could  leave 
before  the  expiration  of  her  month  —  for  which  time  she 
was  engaged  —  if  she  was  disposed,  and  return  to  her 
father's,  whose  family  she  left  very  reluctantly  to  accom- 
modate them.  The  next  day  after  she  had  this  conversa- 
tion with  Sally  they  heard  of  this  little  girl,  whom  they 
had  taken  to  remain  with  them  till  she  was  eighteen  years 
of  age.  I  told  Mrs.  Eldridge,''  said  Mrs.  Bates,  "  that  I 
commended  very  highly  her  prudence,  and  that  I  thought 
she  had  acted  very  wisely.  Do  you  think,  ladies,  that  I 
did  wrong  ?  " 

"  No,  no,  by  no  means,"  both  Mrs.  Davidson  and  Mrs. 
Smith  at  once  exclaimed. 

"  I  think,"  said  Mrs.  Smith,  "  that  Mrs.  Eldridge  is  a  very 
uncommon  young  lady  ;  and  I  intend  to  stand  by  her  firm- 
ly, and,  if  need  be,  to  say  some  things  to  those  people  who 
are  censuring  her  on  account  of  her  domestic  arrange- 
ments which  may  not  be  very  pleasant  to  them." 


MARRIAGE  AND   HOUSEKEEPING.  41 

"  That  is  right,"  Mrs.  Davidson  remarked  ;  "  I  will  be 
with  you.  I  think  we  have  a  rich  jewel  in  the  wife  of  our 
minister.  She  has  good  common  sense  ;  and  intends  to  act 
from  principle,  I  have  no  doubt.  •  If  people  find  fault  with 
her,  I  shall  think  the  fault  is  in  themselves."  x 

Here  tea  was  announced,  and  the  conversation  was  in- 
terrupted. 


CHAPTER    III. 

HARMONIOUS   STATE   OF  THE  PAEISH  AND  IECUMAR 
INTEREST   IN   THE   PASTOR. 

ALTHOUGH,  from  the  description  of  the  manner  in  which 
M<'S.  Eldridge  was  regarded  by  some  of  the  parish  as 
given  in  the  preceding  chapter,  an  inference  might  be 
made  unfavorable  to  the  popularity  of  the  pastor,  yet  the 
inference  "would  not  be  correct.  The  individuals  who 
were  heard  to  animadvert  with  severity  upon  the  wife 
were  loud  in  their  praises  of  the  husband.  Their  feeling 
of  disapprobation  of  the  former  was  rather  superficial 
than  deep  ;  for,  in  the  course  pursued  by  individuals  like 
Mrs.  Smith  and  Mrs.  Davidson,  it  was  not  many  months 
before  it  all  died  away,  and  not  a  whisper  was  heard  to 
the  disadvantage  of  Mrs.  Eldridge.  From  many  expreV 
sions,  moreover,  from  the  sources  whence  formerly  pro- 
ceeded censure,  it  became  evident  that  mortification  for 
imprudent  speech  and  hasty  judgment  had,  at  least  for  a 
season,  closed  the  aperture  of  trouble  which  on  the  part 
of  some  was  feared  would  eventually  prove  great.  Mrs. 
Jones,  Mrs.  Gray,  and  others,  though,  as  ever,  mingling 
much  with  the  people,  were  not  known  to  express  them- 
selves as  formerly  to  the  discredit  of  Mrs.  Eldridge,  but, 
on  the  contrary,  were  heard  to  speak  of  her  with  praise 
and  highly  to  commend  her  as  a  lady  of  great  prudence 
in  her  domestic  arrangements,  and  well  adapted  to  the 

(12) 


PARISH   AND   PASTOR.  43 

important  sphere  in  which  she  was  called  to  act.  That 
unanimity  in  relation  to  all  ministerial  concerns  was  great 
was  acknowledged  in  all  parts  of  the  parish  ;  and  it  was 
proverbial  in  adjacent  towns  that  the  people  to  whom  Mr. 
Eldridge  ministered  had  at  length  found  a  clergyman  of 
whom  they  were  all  exceedingly  proud. 

"Father,"  asked  Frances  Davidson,  about  ten  months 
after  the  settlement  of  Mr.  Eldridge,  "  why  do  not  our 
people  now  build  a  vestry?  You  know  they  tried  two  or 
three  years  since,  but  failed  because  our  former  pastor  was 
so  unpopular.  I  should  think  there  might  be  one  built 
now,  as  everybody  likes  Mr.  Eldridge  so  well." 

"  What  should  put  such  an  idea  into  your  head,  child  ?  " 
the  squire  asked.  "  Have  you  heard  any  one  speak  about 
building  a  vestry?" 

"  No,  father  ;  I  have  not  heard  a  word  about  it  for  a 
long  time.  The  thought  came  to  me  just  as  I  was  making 
some  preparation  for  the  meeting  this  evening  at  the  town 
house." 

"  When  you  asked  the  question,  daughter,  I  did  not 
know  but  that  you  overheard  our  conversation  as  you 
came  into  the  room  when  Mr.  Sheldon  and  Deacon  Smith 
were  in." 

"  Were  you  talking  about  building  a  vestry,  father,  this 
afternoon  ?  "  asked  Frances,  highly  delighted  with  the 
prospect. 

"  Yes,  daughter  ;  and  the  parish  committee  have  this 
afternoon  inserted  an  article  in  the  warrant  for  the  an- 
nual parish  meeting,  which  will  be  held  in  about  two 
weeks,  to  see  if  the  people  will  build  a  vestry  this  sum- 
mer." 

"  I  think  they  will  do  it,  father  •  do  you  not  ?  " 

"  I  rather  think  they  will,  daughter.  We  very  much 
need  such  an  accommodation." 


44  A   VOICE  FROM  THE   PARSONAGE. 

"Husband,  when  are  you  going  to  see  your  old  friend 
Mr.  Billings.?"  asked  Mrs.  Davidson  of  the  squire  one 
Monday  morning.  "  It  is  so  pleasant  to-day  ;  and,  as  I  do 
not  feel  very  well,  I  have  thought  I  would  propose  a  ride 
over  there  this  afternoon." 

"  My  dear,"  the  squire  replied,  "  it  is  our  annual  parish 
meeting  this  afternoon ;  and  I  cannot  be  away  from  that, 
you  know." 

"  0, 1  forgot  that.  No  ;  you  will  of  course  wish  to  be 
present.  It  is  singular  I  should  have  forgotten  it  when 
we  have  talked  so  much  of  the  feeling  which  building  a 
vestry  would  excite.  "Well,"  continued  Mrs.  Davidson, 
"  I  think  I  will  send  John  with  a  note  to  Mrs.  Smith,  and 
invite  her  to  ride  up  here  this  afternoon  with  the  deacon 
when  he  comes  to  the  parish  meeting." 

"  I  would  do  so,  my  dear.  I  should  very  much  like  to 
have  the  deacon  come  in  here  after  meeting  and  talk  over 
matters." 

A  note  was  accordingly  sent.  The  invitation  was  cor- 
dially accepted  ;  and  Mrs.  Smith  came  early  in  the  after- 
noon. As  Frances  had  gone  out  to  be  absent  a  short 
time,  there  were  only  Mrs.  Smith,  Mrs.  Davidson,  and 
aunt  Sarah  together.  These  friends  being  very  sociable, 
and  were  so  much  engrossed  with  conversation  on  sub- 
jects which  exceedingly  interested  them,  that  Mrs.  David- 
son was  unconscious  of  the  flight  of  time,  and  was  hence 
surprised  at  the  appearance  of  one  of  her  domestics  on 
an  errand  that  denoted  the  hour  for  tea  to  be  near. 

"  Is  it  possible,"  she  asked,  "  that  it  is  five  o'clock  ?  " 
instantly  turning  her  eye  to  the  clock  incased  on  the  shelf. 
"  Dear  me  !  I  had  no  idea  it  was  so  late.  Well,  as  it  is 
parish  meeting  to-day,  Mr.  Davidson  will  not  be  in  for 
tea  at  the  usual  hour  ;  and  it  will  be  no  matter  if  we  are 
a  little  tardy." 

Excusing  herself,  Mrs.  Davidson  followed  Margaret  to 


PARISH   AND   PASTOR.  45 

the  kitchen,  where  remaining  a  few  minutes,  she  returned 
to  the  parlor  and  found  Frances  in  most  animated  conver- 
sation with  Mrs.  Smith  and  her  aunt. 

"  What  news  now,  my  daughter  ?  "  inquired  Mrs.  Da- 
vidson. 

"  0  mother,  what  a  large  parish  meeting  they  are  hav- 
ing !  It  seemed  like  Sunday  as  I  passed  the  town  house, 
there  were  so  many  carriages  about.  I  guess  they  will 
have  a  vestry  now." 

"  Perhaps  not,"  aunt  Sarah  replied.  "  We  can't  tell 
what  so  many  people  have  come  out  for.  It  may  be  there 
is  warm  opposition  to  the  project." 

"  0,  no,"  remarked  Mrs.  Smith  j_"  if  there  was  opposition, 
we  should  have  heard  of  it  before  this.  I  presume  the 
people  are  all  in  favor  of  building." 

"  O,  I  hope  they  are,"  Frances  said.  "  I  do  desire  some 
other  place  in  which  to  hold  our  evening  meetings  than 
the  cold,  dirty  town  house." 

The  company  continued  variously  discussing  the  proba- 
bilities of  the  exciting  subject  now  before  the  parish  meet- 
ing being  favorably  received  till  the  arrival  of  Squire 
Davidson  and  the  deacon.  As  soon  as  the  gentlemen 
were  seated,  Mrs.  Smith,  addressing  her  husband,  inquired 
how  the  matter  of  the  vestry  was  disposed  of." 

"  We  have  decided  to  build,"  was  the  reply. 

"  I  am  truly  rejoiced  at  this  decision,"  Mrs.  Smith  ob- 
eerved. 

"  That  is  good  news,"  Mrs.  Davidson  said. 

"  Yes,"  said  the  squire  ;  "  it  will  be  a  fine  thing  for  the 
parish  ;  and  I  feel  very  grateful  that  we  have  so  fair  a  pros- 
pect for  a  vestry.  We  have  had  a  very  harmonious  and 
pleasant  meeting." 

"  Was  there  more  harmony  this  afternoon  than  there 
was  at  the  meeting  at  which  the  people  gave  a  call  to  Mr. 
Eldridgc  to  settle  ?  "  aunt  Sarah  asked. 


. 


46          A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

"There  could  not  be  more  harmony;  for.  the  people 
were  unanimous  in  their  call,"  the  squire  replied.  "  There 
were  many  more  out  this  afternoon  than  at  that  meeting, 
however." 

"  I  thought  there  was  a  very  large  attendance  this 
afternoon,  father,"  said  Frances,  "as  I  passed  the  town 
house." 

"  Yes,  daughter  ;  it  was  the  largest  parish  meeting  that 
I  ever  attended.  Did  you  not  think  it  the  largest  we  ever 
had,  deacon?" 

"  Certainly  ;  by  far,"  the  deacon  replied.  "  I  was  not 
expecting  to  see  half  the  number  out.  It  really  does  me 
good  to  see  so  much  interest  in  our  pastor  as  was  mani- 
fested this  afternoon." 

"  Was  it  not  wonderful,  deacon,  that  there  was  no  more 
opposition  exhibited?"  the  squire  asked.  "I  always 
supposed  that  we  should  carry  the  vote  to  build  by  a 
handsome  majority ;  but  I  had  no  idea  that  it  would  be 
unanimous." 

"Was  it  a  unanimous  vote?"  aunt  Sarah  asked. 

"  We  must  call  it  so,  I  think  ;  must  we  not,  deacon  ?  " 

"I  think  so,"  the  deacon  replied.  "When  the  con- 
trary minds  were  called  I  did  not  see  any  hands  raised." 

"  I  did  not,"  the  squire  observed.  "  I  thought  that  Mr. 
Otis,  Mr.  Brown,  and  Colonel  Presbury  would  certainly 
vote  against  building." 

"Yes,"  said  the  deacon ;  "and  Captain  Fletcher  like- 
wise." 

"I  did  not  think  of  Captain  Fletcher,"  the  squire  re- 
marked. "  Did  you  ever  know  him  vote  with  us  before  ?  " 

"  I  never  did,"  the  deacon  said.  "  I  shall  almost 
think  that  I  did  not  vote  right,  seeing  that  he  was  with 
me." 

"I  do  not  much  wonder  you  think  so,"  the  squire  said. 

Here  the  company  were  summoned  to  the  tea  table,  at 


PARISH  AND   PASTOR.  47 

•which  little  Arthur  was  seated  by  the  side  of  his  grand- 
father. As  was  perfectly  natural,  Mrs.  Smith,  knowing 
that  he  was  no  unimportant  character  in  the  family,  and 
that  he  was  a  bright,  well-behaved  child,  directed  her  con- 
versation to  him. 

"Well,  Arthur,"  she  said,  "don't  you  get  homesick 
sometimes  ?  " 

"  No,  ma'am,"  he  replied,  looking  up  to  his  grandfather, 
smiling. 

"Not  much  homesick  here  with  his  grandpa,"  the  squire 
said,  as  he  placed  his  hand  on  the  head  of  the  little  fellow. 
"He  and  grandpa  have  fine  times." 

"Does  he  love  to  attend  school?"  Mrs.  Smith  inquired 
of  the  grandmother. 

"  Yes,  pretty  well,"  Mrs.  Davidson  said.  "  He  some- 
times, however,  requests  to  stay  at  home." 

"  Well,  I  suppose  you  are  not  very  urgent  for  him  to  go 
at  such  times,"  Mrs.  Smith. said,  with  a  significant  smile. 
"  Grandparents  are  inclined  to  be  indulgent,  you  know." 

Little  Arthur  looked  up  and  burst  forth  in  loud  laughter. 

"What  now,  dear?"  inquired  the  grandmother. 

"I  was  thinking  what  papa  said  as  he  stood  on  the  door- 
way when  he  was  leaving  for  home." 

"  What  did  he  say,  child?    I  do  not  remember." 

The  boy  manifesting  a  little  shyness  in  replying,  but  be- 
ing urged  to  speak  by  both  his  grandparents,  at  length 
said, — 

"  Don't  you  remember  that  papa  said,  '  Don't  spoil  Arthur 
now  by  letting  him  have  his  own  way,  as  grandparents  are  apt 
to  do1?" 

"  0,  yes,  dear  ;  yes,  we  remember  that." 

"Well,"  said  the  grandmother,  "does  Arthur  thihk  that 
he  is  in  danger  of  being  spoiled  ?  " 

Arthur  smiled  and  said,  "I  don't  have  to  mind  hero 
as  I  did  at  home,  I  think." 


4.8  A   VOICE   FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

"  The  little  fellow,"  said  Mrs.  Davidson,  "  is  here  alone, 
with  no  young  children  around  ;  and  we  can't  always  re- 
fuse his  requests,  you  know." 

"  0,  no,  no,"  said  Mrs.  Smith  ;  "  it  is  not  in  the  nature  of 
grandparents  to  refuse." 

" I  understand"  said  Mrs.  Davidson  ;  " I  understand. 
We'll  see  one  of  these  days  how  Mrs.  Smith  manages  with 
her  grandchildren." 

"  We  do  not  intend  to  treat  Arthur  in  any  very  different 
manner  from  that  in  which  we  treated  our  own  children," 
the  squire  observed. 

"  0,  no,  I  presume  not,"  Mrs.  Smith  said  ;  "  but  somehow 
or  other  grandparents  seem  to  forget  how  they  formerly 
treated  their  own  children.  Don't  you  think  so,  squire  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know,"  the  squire  replied,  "  but  that  they  do. 
You  must  not  rub  us  too  hard.  You  know  we  like  to  see 
the  little  folks  enjoy  themselves." 

"  That  is  it,"  continued  Mrs.  Smith.  "  No  wonder 
grandchildren  are  so  fond  of  going  to  see  grandpa  and 
grandma.  They  have  fine  times  together." 

"I  don't  think  Arthur's  grandparents  often  remember 
what  Charles  said  to  them  about  being  too  indulgent,"  aunt 
Sarah  said,  with  much  gravity  and  deliberation. 

"  Why  so,  sister  ?  "  the  squire  asked.  "  Do  you  think 
we  are  very  indulgent  ?  " 

"  I  remember  how  you  formerly  brought  up  children  ; 
and  I  think  your  present  mode  of  management  is  very  un- 
like that." 

"  Well,"  said  the  squire,  "  we  will  try  not  to  spoil  Arthur 
entirely,"  as  he  helped  him  to  a  second  piece  of  cake  in 
answer  to  his  request. 

"  There,"  said  aunt  Sarah,  "  what  you  have  now  done 
you  never  would  do  to  your  own  children." 

"0,  well,  sister,  perhaps  I  am  wiser  than  formerly,' \  the 
squire  replied,  with  a  smile. 


PARISH  AND   PASTOR.  49 

Arthur  having  despatched  his  cake,  betraying  all  the 
while  the  consciousness  that  he  was  in  pretty  indulgent 
hands,  the  company  retired  from  the  table.  Mrs.  Smith 
remaining  with  Mrs.  Davidson,  the  squire  and  the  deacon 
returned  to  the  parlor  and  resumed  conversation  on  the 
doings  of  the  parish  meeting.  At  the  recital  by  the  dea- 
con of  what  he  heard  Captain  Fletcher  remark,  both  gen- 
tlemen were  indulging  themselves  in  a  hearty  laugh  when 
the  ladies  entered. 

"  You  seem  to  be  very  merry,  gentlemen,"  Mrs.  Smith 
observed.  "I  hope  we  ladies  will  not  be  any  interrup- 
tion." 

"  By  no  means,  madam,"  said  the  squire. 

"  Now,  husband,"  said  Mrs.  Davidson,  "  let  us  hear  all 
about  the  parish  meeting.  You  remarked  before  tea  that 
the  vote  to  build  was  unanimous ;  was  there  no  opposi- 
tion?" 

"  Not  when  the  vote  was  taken.  The  question  was 
pretty  fully  discussed,  and  there  were  a  few  who  thought 
the  expense  might  be  avoided.  Mr.  Otis  thought  the  town 
would  be  willing  to  have  the  parish  repair  the  town  house 
and  control  it.  If  such  an  arrangement  could  be  made,  lie 
argued,  it  would  be  better  to  repair  than  to  build.  Colonel 
Presbury  took  a  similar  view,  and  so  did  Mr.  Brown." 

"  These  gentlemen  did  not  vote  to  build,  did  they  ? " 
Mrs.  Smith  inquired. 

u  No,  madam,"  the  squire  said  ;  "  nor  did  they  vote  not  to 
build.  They  thought  something  ought  to  be  done,  but 
wished  to  avoid  the  great  expense  required  in  building  a 
vestry." 

"  They  were  thinking  of  their  taxes,"  the  deacon  said. 

"  I  dare  say  this,"  Mrs.  Davidson  observed.  "  They  are 
always  complaining  of  high  town  and  parish  taxes." 

"  What  induced  Captain  Fletcher  to  vote  as  he  did?" 
Mrs.  Smith  inquired. 
5 


' 


50  A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

"He  surprised  us  all,"  the  squire  replied.  "He  not 
only  voted  in  favor  of  building,  but  he  advocated  the  meas- 
ure in  a  somewhat  lengthy  speech." 

"  Captain  Fletcher  make  a  speech,  father ! "  said  Fran- 
ces. "  What  was  it  ?  " 

"He  began  by  remarking,"  the  squire  said,  "that  he 
supposed  a  vestry  would  not  be  of  much  use  to  him  or  any 
of  his  neighbors  unless  we  all  alter  very  much.  We  have 
not  a  very  good  character  there  in  Hard  Scrabble  for  go- 
ing to  meeting  Sundays  in  the  meeting  house,  or  for  our 
treatment  of  ministers,  or  for  any  thing  relating  to  re- 
ligion ;  but,  said  he,  we  know  some  things,  after  all.  We 
can  tell  a  good  minister  any  time  by  just  seeing  him. 
Now,  Mr.  Moderator,  they  have  got  a  first-rate  minister 
now,  in  the  opinion  of  Hard  Scrabble  folks  at  least.  He 
has  been  in  that  neighborhood  and  called  at  every  house  ; 
and  he 'preached  not  long  ago  in  the  school  house  there, 
and  we  all  turned  out  and  filled  up  the  building  for  him. 
We  all  like  Mr.  Eldridge  ;  and  I  told  my  wife,  when  I  saw 
the  warrant  up  for  this  meeting,  that  I  meant  to  go  and 
rnstke  a  speech  and  vote  to  build  a  vestry  for  Mr.  Eldridge, 
because  I  like  the  man.  Now,  I  have  done  what  I  said  I 
would  ;  and  I  shall  vote  to  build  a  good  large  vestry  equal 
to  any  in  "  the  parts  ; "  and  I  see  many  of  my  neighbors  here 
who  have  said  that  they  should  vote  to  build  too,  because 
they  like  the  minister.  There  is  Mr.  Frost,  or,  as  we  call 
him,  the  'general :'  he  told  me  that,  if  I  would  attend  this 
meeting  and  make  a  speech  here,  he  would  likewise.  Now, 
I  hope  the  old  gentleman  won't  back  out." 

"  Why,  Mr.  Davidson ! "  his  wife  remarked,  in  a  tone  of 
great  surprise.  "  Captain  Fletcher  did  not  say  all  this,  did 
he?" 

"  Certainly  he  did,  my  dear,  and  much  more.  He  spoko 
for  a  good  half  hour,  and  he  astonished  us  all." 

"  Were  there  many  down  from  Hard  Scrabble  ?  "  Fran- 
ces inquired. 


PARISH  AND   PASTOR.  51 

"  Yes,  daughter  ;  there  were  fifteen  or  twenty." 

"  Did  they  all  vote  for  a  vestry  ?  "  aunt  Sarah  asked. 

"  I  presume  so,"  the  squire  replied.  "  They  all  looked 
interested  and  pleased." 

.  "  I  hope,"  said  Mrs.  Davidson,  "  that  General  Frost,  as 
they  call  him,  did  not  make  a  speech  as  he  was  challenged 
to  do  by  Captain  Fletcher." 

"  Why  not,  my  dear  ?  " 

"  I  should  not  think  a  drunkard  like  him  would  have 
influence  on  any  one." 

"  He  has  left  off  drinking  now,  you  know,"  Mrs.  Smith 
remarked. 

'•  No,  I  never  heard  of  that,"  Mrs.  Davidson  said. 

"It  is  a  fact,  I  believe,"  continued  Mrs.  Smith.  "  It  is 
now  nearly  a  year  since  he  has  drank  any." 

"  That  is  really  cheering  intelligence,"  Mrs.  Davidson 
said  ;  "  and  now  I  hope  he  did  make  a  speech  in  the  parish 
meeting." 

"  He  did  make  one,"  the  squire  said,  "  and  said  many 
good  things  which  it  was  interesting  to  hear.  As  I  re- 
ported Captain  Fletcher,  I  must  ask  the  deacon  to  report 
the  general  for  the  gratification  of  the  ladies." 

The  deacon  accordingly  proceeded,  and  said  that  Mr. 
Frost  began  with  saying,  — 

"  I  did  tell  Captain  Fletcher  that,  if  he  came  to  this 
meeting  and  made  a  speech,  I  would  do  the  same.  I  did 
not  think  he  would  come  ;  and,  if  he  came,  I  did  not 
think  that  any  person  in  this  meeting  would  expect  to  hear 
him  speak  any  more  than  they  would  me  ;  and  I  am  sure 
no  one  would  have  expected  a  speech  from  me  any  more 
than  from  that  old  crazy  Jenkins  who  was  buried  last 
week.  Butv  Mr.  Moderator,  here  I  am  ;  and  I  will  try  to 
say  something  about  building  a  vestry.  I  think  there 
ought  to  be  one  built.  This  place  is  not  fit  to  hold  meet- 
ings in.  It  is  cold  and  dirty  ;  and  there  ought  to  be  a 


52  A  VOICE  FEOM  THE  PAKSONAGE. 

better  place.  My  daughter  comes  down  here  to  evening 
meetings  sometimes  ;  and  she  complains  because  it  is  so 
uncomfortable  and  not  clean.  Mr.  Otis  pretends  that  the 
town  would  consent  to  have  this  building  repaired  ;  but  I 
am  opposed  to  the  town's  business  being  done  by  the  par- 
ish. I  go  for  a  new  vestry.  I  think  we  ought  to  build 
one  because  they  tell  me  the  minister  wants  one.  Mr. 
Eldridge  is  a  nice  man,  I  believe.  I,  for  one,  like  him 
much.  He  -has  been  up  our  way  and  preached  in  the 
school  house,  as  the  captain  told  you ;  arid  he  preached  a 
right  smart  sermon  ;  and  he  prayed  right  smart,  too.  I 
tell  our  folks  I  must  come  down  here  some  Sunday  and 
hear  him  further ;  and  if  you  build  a  vestry  I  ain't  sure 
but  that  I  shall  come  to  the  evening  meetings  sometimes 
when  there  is  a  moon." 

"  The  general  acquitted  himself  well,"  Mrs.  Davidson 
observed. 

"  Certainly  he  did,"  the  deacon  replied.  "  Mr.  Frost 
is  a  very  sensible  man,  and,  but  for  his  intemperate  habits, 
would  have  made  a  very  valuable  citizen." 

"I  think  he  would,"  the  squire  said.  "I've  often 
thought,  when  he  has  been  in  the  store,  that  I  did  not 
know  of  a  shrewder  man  than  he." 

"  I  hope,"  aunt  Sarah  said,  "  he  has  reformed  and  will 
continue  a  sober  man.  Who  knows  but  that  he  may  be  a 
Christian  yet?" 

"  Were  there  any  there  from  Kenyon's  Corner,  father  ?  " 
Frances  inquired. 

"  Yes,  daughter,  a  large  number  ;  and  they  appeared 
much  interested  in  having  a  vestry." 

. "  Did  any  of  them  say  any  thing  ? "  Mrs.  Davidson 
asked. 

"  No,  dear,  not  in  meeting  ;  but  I  talked  with  Mr.  Brown 
and  Mr.  Freeman  after  the  meeting  was  over,  who  told 
me  they  thought  the  people  in  that  neighborhood  were  all 


PARISH  AND   PASTOR.  53 

in  favor  of  building.  They  had  much  to  say  about  Mr. 
Eldridge,  and  thought  that  he  was  just  the  man  for  us." 

"  It  seems,"  Mrs.  Smith  remarked,  "  that  people  in  every 
part  of  the  parish  feel  as  they  do  in  Kenyon's  Corner  to- 
wards our  pastor.  I  saw  Mrs.  Duncan  from  Union  Vil- 
lage last  week,  who  informed  rne  the  people  in  her  neigh- 
borhood were  carried  away  with  Mr.  Eldridge." 

"  From  all  that  was  said  in  the  meeting  this  afternoon," 
the  squire  remarked,  "  I  judged  the  people  were  very  much 
united  in  Mr.  Eldridge,  and  that  their  esteem  for  him  was 
increasing  the  more  they  saw  of  him." 

"I  was  similarly  impressed,"  the  deacon  said.  "I  think 
we  have  great  cause  for  gratitude  that  such  a  good  minis- 
ter has  been  sent  us.  I  do  not  hear  any  thing  said  against 
Mr.  Eldridge  ;  but  almost  every  week  I  hear  much  in  his 
favor." 

"  You  are  very  favorably  situated  for  knowing  the 
minds  of  the  people,"  Mrs.  Davidson  said  ;  "  as  almost 
every  family  in  town  sends  to  your  mill." 

"  Did  they  decide  where  to  locate  the  vestry  ?  "  Frances 
asked. 

"  0,  -yes,  daughter,"  the  squire  said  ;  "  they  decided  to 
set  it  where  I  told  you  I  thought  they  would  —  on  Mr. 
Duncan's  lot,  if  he  will  sell  half  an  acre.  I  rather  think 
he  will ;  as  he  is  in  favor  of  building  and  knows  that  his 
lot  is  the  best  location." 

"  What  kind  of  a  building  will  they  erect  ?  "  aunt  Sarah 
asked. 

"  A  one-story  building,"  the  squire  replied,  "  large 
enough  to  have  one  spacious  room  and  two  smaller  ones 
to  open  into  the  larger  one.  These  small  rooms  will 
be  convenient  for  many  purposes.  In  one  of  them  the 
Sabbath  school  library  and  parish  library  can  be  accom- 
modated. The  ladies  can  hold  their  sewing  circle  in  one 
of  these  small  rooms  ;  and,  on  the  Sabbath,  .the  people 
5* 


54  A  VOICE  FROM  THE   PARSONAGE. 

who  do  not  return  home  during  the  intermission  can  have 
a  very  warm  and  comfortable  place  in  which  to  remain." 

"  People  will  be  much  accommodated  by  such  an  ar- 
rangement," Mrs.  Smith  observed. 

"  And  Mr.  Eldridge  likewise,"  said  Frances.  "  He  has 
always  wished  for  a  vestry  ;  and  I  am  much  pleased  that 
there  is  now  a  prospect  of  his  being  gratified." 

"  Had  Mr.  Eldridge  not  been  very  popular  throughout 
the  parish  we  should  not  have  had  such  a  prospect,"  Mrs. 
Smith  remarked  ;  "  do  you  think  we  should,  squire  ?  " 

"  We  are  undoubtedly  indebted  to  his  general  popular- 
ity for  the  vote  to  build  a  vestry,  I  think,"  the  squire 
replied. 

"  Most  certainly,"  said  the  deacon.  "  We  could  never 
have  obtained  a  vote  to  build  had  not  Mr.  Eldridge  been 
very  popular  in  the  parish." 


CHAPTER    IV. 

CROOKED   STICK. 

SUCH  in  every  parish  as  are  interested  in  the  ele- 
ments of  its  prosperity,  and  upon  whom  no  small  share 
of  responsibility  devolves,  who  look  upon  the  parish  with 
almost  the  interest  with  which  they  contemplate  their  own 
families,  sensitive  to  every  passing  breeze,  watching  it  to 
discover  if  health  or  disease  be  odorous  therein,  know 
full  well  that  there  is  no  parochial  union  that  is  impreg- 
nable, and  that,  however  united  a  people  may  be  in  their 
pastor  to-day,  there  is  no  security  against  disrupture  to- 
morrow. The  minister  is  peculiarly  the  victim  of  caprice, 
of  distorted  vision,  of  disappointed  hopes,  and  of  diseased 
minds  and  hearts.  If  there  be  deaf  persons  in  the  parish, 
he  is  sure  to  be  reported  as  having  said  that  of  which 
he  never  thought  and  of  having  omitted  to  say  what 
he  did.  If  there  be  hypochondriacs  in  the  parish,  in  some 
way  or  other  he  approaches  them  on  the  dark  side  ;  so 
that  he  is  not  seen  as  he  is.  If  there  be  great  news  gath- 
erers and  news  spreaders  there,  he  must  take  it  for  granted 
that  his  presence  in  the  company  of  such  for  ten  minutes 
will  furnish  materials  for  the  gossip  of  a  week  ;  and  he 
must  not  wonder  if  some  brother  minister  whom  he  meets 
when  he  next  goes  to  the  association  should  call  him  to  an 
account  for  some  of  his  speeches  or  conduct  which  are 
making  much  excitement  in  neighboring  towns,  in  relation 


56  A   VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

to  which  he  is  as  disconnected  as  the  missionary  to  Japan, 
and  of  which  no  mortal  ever  breathed  to  him  before.  If 
there  be  vain  persons  in  the  parish,  — men  who  are  impor- 
tant only  in  their  own  conceit,  who  have  wisdom  which 
they  care  to  impart  and  counsel  for  every  emergency,  but 
who,  withal,  are  very  careful  of  their  pockets,  not  exactly 
understanding  how  to  pay  much  towards  the  salary  of  the 
pastor,  or  how  to  assist  in  making  up  any  parish  arrear- 
ages, or  do  any  thing  to  make  all  things  move  onward 
smoothly  and  pleasantly,  —  the  minister  need  not  lay  it 
much  to  heart  if  he  hears  from  such  individuals  strange 
stories  and  doleful  forebodings  after  any  important  meas- 
ure has  been  adopted,  and  in  relation  to  which  the  dea- 
cons, squires,  and  other  principal  men  had  not  seen  fit  to 
call  upon  and  consult  these  wise  men  previous  to  the  meet- 
ing at  which  such  measure  was  carried.  "We  are  all  famil- 
iar with  the  adage,  "  It  takes  all  sorts  of  men  to  make  a 
world  ; "  and  most  generally  it  can  be  affirmed  of  parishes 
that  they  are  composed  of  every  variety  of  material. 
There  are  times  when  this  versatile  material  seems  to 
have  a  oneness  about  it ;  as  there  are  seasons  when  the  sea 
is  tranquil  and  calm,  presenting  to  the  unpractised  eye 
impoteney  to  surge  and  wave.  Clouds,  however,  often 
suddenly  gather  ;  and  where  but  a  few  moments  before 
there  was  a  placid  sheet  of  water,  with  hardly  a  ripple 
to  meet  the  view,  may  now  be  seen  the  mountain  wave  and 
the  yawning  depth.  So  of  parishes  where  the  diversity 
of  material  composing  it  may  seem  to  have  no  variety  ; 
in  a  time  unlocked  for  discordant  elements  may  appear, 
threatening  destruction  to  all  which  makes  pastoral  and 
ministerial  comfort  and  usefulness  secure. 

A  little  more  than  two  years  from  the  settlement  of  Mr. 
Eldridge,  as  little  Arthur  was  on  his  way  'from  school,  he 
stopped,  as  was  his  frequent  practice,  at  his  grandfather's 
Store  to  furnish  his  pockets  with  a  little  variety  of  confec- 


CROOKED   STICK.  57 

tionery,  to  bo  able  to  gratify  his  own  appetite  as  well  as 
confer  ever-welcome  gifts  upon  favorite  schoolfellows. 
There  happened  to  be  no  one  in  the  store  at  the  time  but 
his  grandfather,  Mr.  Billings,  and  Deacon  Smith.  Little 
Arthur  noticed  that  his  grandfather  was  a  little  excited, 
and,  by  one  of  the  expressions  which  escaped  the  old  gen- 
tleman, he  was  somewhat  impressed.  He  could  not  apply 
it  as  was  his  desire,  nor  decipher  it  as  he  tried  hard  to  do  ; 
so,  not  waiting  for  his  grandfather  to  accompany  him 
homeN  as  usual,  —  for  he  saw  no  indications  in  him  of  any 
thought  of  dinner,  —  he  went  off  alone  to  his  home.  As 
soon  as  lie  entered  the  room  where  his  grandmother  was 
arranging  the  table  he  somewhat  eagerly  and  loudly  in- 
quired, — 

"  Grandma,  what  is  crooked  stick  ?  " 

"  Crooked  stick,  child !  Don't  Arthur  know  what  that 
is  ?  "  his  grandmother  said.  "  Why,  it  is  a  piece  of  wood 
that  is  not  straight." 

"  Is  Mr.  Otis  a  stick  of  wood,  grandma  ?  " 

"  Wljy  do  you  ask  such  a  question,  child  ?  "  uttered  his 
grandmother.  "  Mr.  Otis  is  a  gentleman,  Arthur."  , 

"  Well,  then,"  inquired  the  little  fellow,  "  what  did 
grandpa  mean  when  he  said  that  Mr.  Otis  was  a  crooked 
stick  ?  " 

"  Did  you  hear  him  call  Mr.  Otis  a  crooked  stick,  my 
child?" 

"  Yes,  grandma,  I  did.  I  heard  him  say  so  twice  just 
r.ow  at  the  store.  He  said,  'It  don't  signify  ;  Mr.  Otis  is 
a  crooked  stick  —  a  crooked  stick.'  " 

"  Who  did  he  say  this  to,  Arthur  ?  " 

"  To  Mr.  Billings  and  Deacon  Smith,  grandma." 

The  grandmother,  understanding  more  than  the  child, 
and  being  grieved  with  fearful  apprehensions  of  trouble  in 
the  parish,  diverted  the  further  curiosity  of  Arthur  by  re- 
questing him  to  go  out  to  the  hennery  and  bring  her  in 


58  A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

some  eggs.  Whilst  the  little  boy  was  out  the  squire  came 
in,  and,  not  seeing  Mrs.  Davidson  or  Arthur,  he  asked  aunt 
Sarah, — 

" Has  not  Arthur  come  home  yet? " 

"  0,  yes,"  she  replied  ;  "  he  came  home  some  time  ago. 
His  grandmother  sent  him  out  just  now  to  look  for  some 
eggs.  Has  any  thing  new  happened,  brother  ?  " 

"  Why  do  you  ask  such  a  question,  sister  ?  " 

"  0,  I  thought  from  what  Arthur  told  his  grandmother 
something  or  other  was  brewing  in  the  parish." 

"What  did  he  say?" 

"  He  came  home  and  told  his  grandmother  that  you 
called  Mr.  Otis  a  crooked  stick  twice  ;  and  he  wanted 
his  grandmother  to  explain  what  you  meant." 

"  Well,  if  he  lives  as  long  as  I  have  and  has  much  to  do 
with  the  world,  he'll  find  out  what  crooked  stick  means  to 
his  sorrow." 

"  What  now,  brother  ?  "  asked  aunt  Sarah,  somewhat 
alarmed  at  the  decided  tones  of  the  squire.  "  What  has 
Mr.  Otis  been  doing  ?  " 

"  0,  nothing  very  alarming,  but  something  very  pro- 
voking," the  squire  replied.  "  He  wants  to  have  Deacon 
Smith  resign  his  post  as  chorister  and  be  succeeded  by 
Mr.  Nelson."  • 

Mrs.  Davidson  now  entering  the  room,  her  husband  at 
once  remarked,  — 

"  Sister  tells  me  that  Arthur  came  home  with  some 
startling  news." 

"  Yes,  husband ;  and  pray  tell  me  what  the  man  is  up 
to  now." 

"  I  have  just  been  telling  sister  about  it.  Mr.  Otis 
wishes  to  have  Deacon  Smith  retire  from  the  seats  and 
have  Mr.  Nelson  lead  the  singing." 

"  Mr.  Nelson  !  "  exclaimed  Mrs.  Davidson.  "  Why,  he 
has  not  been  in  the  parish  six  weeks  yet ;  and  who 


CROOKED   STICK.  59 

knows  what  his  character  is  or  what  his  excellence  as 
a  singer?  " 

"  Who  knows?  "  said  the  squire,  with  emotion.  "  Why, 
Mr.  Otis  knows  ;  and  that  is  sufficient." 

"I  thought,"  aunt  Sarah  observed,  "that  Mr.  Otis  had 
a  very  high  opinion  of  the  deacon  as  a  singer.  He  was 
ycry  anxious  that  he  should  take  the  lead." 

"  He  was,"  said  the  squire,  "  three  years  ago  •  but  I  sup- 
pose he  has  become  tired  of  the  deacon's  tunes  and  wants 
something  new." 

"  Will  our  people  consent  to  have  the  deacon  give  up  ?  " 
Mrs.  Davidson  inquired. 

"This  matter  of  singing,"  the  squire  said,  "is  a  delicate 
affair.  The  singers  must  do  as  they  please,  or  there  will 
be  trouble,  you  know.  Mr.  Otis  has  been  circulating  a 
paper  among  them,  and  several  have  signed  it,  in  which  a 
preference  is  given  to  Mr.  Nelson  for  chorister  and  a  de- 
sire expressed  that  he  may  be  appointed." 

"  Who  has  signed  the  paper?  " 

"  Mr.  Gushing,  Mr.  Everett,  Mr.  Humphrey,  Miss  Lord, 
Miss  Simons,  and  others  whose  names  I  have  forgotten," 
the  squire  said. 

"  Has  Mr.  Nichols,  or  Mr.  Parker,  or  Miss  Wilson,  or 
Miss  Carter?" 

"No,  not  either  of  them,  my  dear  ;  and  they  will  not, 
the  deacon  tells  me.  They  and  many  others  have  been  to 
him  to  urge  him  to  take  no  notice  of-  what  Mr.  Otis  is 
doing.  Mr.  Parker  told  the  deacon  that  Mr.  Otis  was  a 
crooked  stick,  always  had  been,  and  always  would  be,  till 
he  was  straightened  in  his  grave.  It  was  when  Mr.  Bil- 
lings was  telling  me  of  this  that  I  said  what  Arthur  men- 
tioned." 

Previous  to  going  to  the  store  after  dinner  the  squire 
proposed  to  his  wife  to  ride  down  to  Mr.  Clay's  after  tea 
and  spend  the  evening.  Mr.  Clay  occupied  an  important 


60  A  VOICE   FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

position  in  society.  Having  been  liberally  educated,  and 
with  fair  prospects  of  success  in  professional  life,  he  was 
under  the  necessity,  from  regard  to  his  health,  of  not  pros- 
ecuting the  study  of  law,  on  which  he  had  entered,  and  of 
devoting  himself  to  agricultural  pursuits.  A  valuable 
farm  being  offered  for  sale  in  the  town  about  the  time 
he  came  to  the  conclusion  to  abandon  study,  and  noticing 
the  advertisement  in  the  papers,  he  was  induced,  by  his 
knowledge  of  the  scenery  about  it,  and  of  the  character  of 
many  of  the  people  of  the  place,  many  of  whom  he  person, 
ally  knew  and  had  visited,  to  become  its  purchaser.  He 
accordingly  soon  took  possession  of  the  same,  having  pre- 
viously married  a  very  estimable  and  pious  .young  lady. 
He  became  a  resident  of  the  place  about  two  years  before 
the  settlement  of  Mr.  Eldridge,  and  had  attained  an  ex- 
tensive influence  in  the  community  when  this  event  oc- 
curred. Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clay  were  ardently  attached 
to  Mr.  Eldridge,  and  in  every  thing  relating  to  his  happi- 
ness they  were  most  deeply  interested.  Their  house  was 
the  frequent  resort  of  the  pastor  and  of  other  individuals 
-who  could  appreciate  intellectual  and  moral  worth. 

Squire  Davidson  and  wife  had  not  long  been  seated  in 
the  parlor  of  these  friends  before  Mrs.  Clay  inquired  of 
Mrs.  Davidson  if  Mr.  Parker  had  called  upon  them  in  re- 
lation to  a  subscription  to  procure  for  Deacon  Smith  a 
valuable  family  Bible  in  token  of  the  esteem  in  which  he 
was  held  for  his  services  as  chorister. 

"  Do  you  hear  that,  husband  ?  "  said  Mrs.  Davidson  to 
the  squire,  who  was  engrossed  in  conversation  with  Mr. 
Clay. 

"  No,  my  dear  ;  what  ?  " 

Mrs.  Davidson  then  repeated  the  remark  of  Mrs.  Clay. 

"  No,  Mrs.  Clay,"  said  the  squire,  "  we  have  heard  noth- 
ing of  the  kind.  It  is  a  very  timely  manifestation  of  re- 
gard for  a  most  worthy  man,  and  I  hope  it  may  do  good." 


CROOKED   STICK.  61 

"  Did  Mr.  Parker  say  any  thing  in  relation  to  a  desire  on 
the  part  of  some  for  a  new  leader  of  our  singing  ?  "  Mrs. 
Davidson  inquired. 

"  He  did  not,"  Mrs.  Clay  replied.  "  He  appeared  to  be 
in  haste  and  did  not  stop  long.  Are  not  all  satisfied  with 
the  deacon  ?  " 

"  We  never  knew  of  any  dissatisfaction  with  him  till 
to-day,"  Mrs.  Davidson  replied. 

"  Who  is  opposed  to  him  ?  "  Mr.  Clay  asked. 

"  I  believe  Mr.  Otis  is  at  the  bottom  of  the  opposition," 
the  squire  said.  "  The  deacon  was  in  at  my  store  this 
morning  somewhat  troubled  about  it.  I  never  heard  of  it 
till  he  mentioned  the  subject  to  me.  He  says  that  Mr. 
Otis  has  been  to  him  and  pretty  broadly  hinted  that  it 
would  be  pleasant  to  a  number  of  the  singers  and  many 
of  the  people  if  they  could  have  Mr.  Nelson  for  chorister." 

"  Mr.  Parker  didn't  like  this  arrangement,  I  rather 
think,"  Mr.  Clay  remarked. 

"  He  does  not,"  said  the  squire.  "  He  is  very  much  dis- 
turbed about  it,  and  means  to  prevent  it  if  possible.  I 
am  very  glad  to  hear,  as  you  have  informed  us,  that  he  is 
now  engaged  in  obtaining  means  for  showing  the  deacon 
how  highly  he  is  regarded  by  us  for  his  services  as  choris- 
ter. It  is  a  capital  plan." 

"  What  kind  of  a  man  is  this  Mr.  Otis  ?"  Mr.  Clay  in- 
quired. "  I  never  had  much  acquaintance  with  him." 

"  0,  I  do  not  know,"  the  squire  said.  "  He  has  some 
good  traits  of  character ;  but,  somehow  or  other,  he  has 
many  enemies." 

"I  thought  this  might  be  the  case  by  what  I  have 
beard,"  Mr.  Clay  said.  "  Mr.  Billings  was  in  here  the 
other  day  highly  excited  by  some  of  his  conduct  in  rela- 
tion to  the  school  house  they  are  building  in  his  district ; 
and,  from  what  he  said  of  the  man,  I  could  not  help  think- 
ing of  what  my  father  used  to  say  of  some  people." 
6 


62  A   VOICE    PROM   THE   PARSONAGE. 

"  What  was  that  ?  "  the  squire  asked. 

"  Why,"  said  Mr.  Clay,  "  there  was  a  man  in  our  neigh- 
borhood who  greatly  annoyed  every  one  about  him  by  his 
course  in  regard  to  any  thing  relating  to  town  matters,  or 
school  matters,  or  parish  matters.  He  was  never  satisfied. 
How  many  times  I  have  heard  father  say  he  was  a  crooked 
stick ! " 

This  remark  very  much  excited  both  the  squire  and 
his  wife,  who  at  once  manifested  their  emotion  by  a 
most  hearty  laugh,  in  explanation  of  which  the  squire 
observed, — 

"  That  is  just  the  remark  some  people  about  here  make 
respecting  Mr.  Otis.  Mr.  Billings  was  telling  me  to-day 
that  Mr.  Parker  had  said  that  Mr.  Otis  was  a  crooked 
stick,  always  had  been,  and  always  would  be  till  he  was 
straightened  in  his  grave.  It  is  a  fact,  Mr.  Clay ;  that 
individual  is  a  very  troublesome  character.  There  is  no 
dependence  upon  him.  If  he  is  satisfied  with  a  thing  to- 
day, he  may  not  be  to-morrow." 

"  These  crooked  sticks  are  very  inconvenient,"  Mr. 
Clay  said.  "  I  suppose  Mr.  Otis  is  not  the  only  one  we 
have  among  us." 

"  I  am  sorry  to  say,"  said  Mrs.  Davidson,  "  that  there 
are  others." 

"  There  is  such  a  piece  in  this  neighborhood,"  said 
Squire  Davidson.  & 

"  Who  do  you  refer  to  —  Mr.  Andrews  ?  " 

"Yes,  sir." 

"  There  is  another  near  you,"  said  Mrs.  Clay. 

"  Mr.  Scott,  I  suppose  you  refer  to,"  said  the  squire. 
"  Yes ;  he  is  one  of  this  species  of  timber.  If  it  were 
not  for  these  men  and  a  few  others,  and  three  or  four 
jwomen  in  town,  —  asking  your  pardon,  ladies,  —  I  should 
have  but  little  fear  of  any  parochial  trouble  ;  but  now 
I  am  in  constant  apprehension  that  every  month  may 


CEOOKED   STICK.  63 

start  something  against  Mr.  Eldridge  that  will  give  us 
trouble." 

"  I  admire  your  independence,  squire,"  said  Mrs.  Clay, 
"  in  the  declaration  of  the  truth,  though  it  brings  us  ladies 
under  condemnation.  I  really  think  there  are  crooked 
sticks  among  us  as  well  as  among  the  gentlemen,  and  of 
equal,  if  not  greater,  harm  sometimes." 

"  Your  good  sense,  madam,  is  to  be  applauded."  the 
squire  replied,  bowing  very  pleasantly,  "  in  being  willing 
to  admit  the  truth" 

"  What  a  dreadful  thing  it  would  be,"  Mrs.  Clay  ob- 
served, "  if  any  of  our  crooked  sticks  should  be  the  means 
of  the  dismission  of  Mr.  Eldridge  !  " 

"  I  know  it,"  Mrs.  Davidson  replied.  "  We  often  speak 
of  it  at  home." 

"I  think  it  ought  not  to  be  so,"  Mr.  Clay  observed, 
"  that  one  or  two  individuals  can  break  up  the  peace  of  a 
parish  and  be  the  means  of  the  dismission  of  a  pastor." 

"  I  know  that,"  the  squire  said  ;  "  but  it  is  so  very  often. 
I  know  people  ought  to  rise  at  once  and  put  these  indi- 
viduals down  who  are  ever  ready  to  make  or  increase 
difficulties  in  a  parish  ;  but,  for  some  reason  or  other, 
there  is  often  an  indisposition  on  the  part  of  the  people 
to  take  a  firm  stand  in  favor  of  right  and  against  wrong. 
Were  there  firmness  on  the  part  of  the  friends  of  law  and 
order,  and  should  they  manifest  their  determination  to 
abide  by  the  right  and  put  down  the  wrong,  there  would 
be  more  security  for  pastors  and  more  stability  for  church- 
es. I  suppose  the  great  reason  for  the  apathy  of  the  great 
body  of  the  people,  when  a  few  malcontents  have  created 
troubles  in  the  parish  with  the  minister,  is  their  unwilling- 
ness to  be  drawn  into  contention.  They  do  not  want  to 
burn  their  fingers  by  meddling  with  the  fire,  I  suppose." 

"  Such  conduct,  I  think,  is  decidedly  wrong,"  Mr.  Clay 
remarked.  "It  involves  a  species  of  cruelty  which  I  call 


64  A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

^c. 

intolerable.  When  these  crooked  sticks  make  a  fire — • 
which  might  with  perfect  ease  be  suppressed  at  once  if 
the  many  would  rally  to  the  effort,  and  thus  the  peace, 
comfort,  and  usefulness  of  a  minister  be  promoted  and  con- 
tinued —  the  pastor  is  sacrificed,  his  family  distressed  and 
famished,  by  reason  of  the  backwardness  of  the  people  to 
interpose  and  show  such  crooked  sticks  their  proper 
places  and  that  they  cannot  accomplish  their  disorgan- 
izing an-d  destructive  ends.  How  such  people  who  are 
satisfied  with  their  pastor  can  calmly  look  on  when  these 
destroyers  of  his  prospects,  happiness,  and  usefulness  are 
at  work,  and  not  manifest  their  indignation  and  their  de- 
termination to  rescue  him  from  their  power  and  preserve 
him  unspoiled,  is  more  than  I  can  reconcile  with  the  exer- 
cise of  a  good  consciences  When  the  fire  might  be  ex- 
tinguished with  a  very  small  effort,  rather  than  subject 
themselves  to  the  least  exposure,  people  suffer  it  to  burn 
and  do  its  worst !  !L-f- 

"  That  is  cruel  indeed  ! "  Mrs.  Davidson  exclaimed.  "  A 
good  minister,  one  that  most  of  the  people  love  and  re- 
spect, who  has  been  and  may  long  be  useful,  allowed,  with 
wife  and  children,  to  be  burned  up  in  a  fire  kindled  by  a 
few  uneasy,  restless  spirits,  when  with  a  very  little  effort 
it  might  be  put  out,  and  the  pastor,  his  family,  and  his 
parish  be  saved  from  distress  or  ruin,  —  what  is  such  con- 
duct but  extreme  cruelty?" 

"  Well,"  said  Mrs.  Clay,  "  if  any  of  our  crooked  sticks 
attempt  to  make  any  such  fire  for  our  dear  pastor,  I  hope 
there  are  enough  of  us  who  will  be  ready  to  sound  the 
alarm  and  labor  to  extinguish  it." 

"  I  fear  you  would  be  disappointed,"  the  squire  ob- 
served. "  Though  all  arc  ready,  as  they  think,  to  pluck 
out  their  eyes  for  Mr.  Eldridge,  y^t,  if  the  time  should  ever 
come  when  our  crooked  sticks  have 'made  a  difficulty  with 
him,  I  fear  there  would  be  an  unwillingness  on  the  part 


CROOKED   STICK.  65 

of  the  great  body  of  the  people  to  interpose.  Those  who 
made  the  trouble  would  be  suffered  to  work  on  without 
resistance  from  an  unwillingness  of  the  people  to  be  drawn 
into  a  conflict.  People  love  ease  and  quietude,  and  are 
amazing  slow  to  do  or  say  any  thing  to  jeopardize  either. 
The  difficulties  with  Mr.  Eldridge  might  be  exceedingly 
regretted  and  the  conduct  of  the  individuals  making  them 
might  be  severely  censured,  and  at  the  same  time  there  be 
no  disposition  to  resist  and  remove  them  for  the  purpose 
of  retaining  our  pastor.  People  would  say,  —  or,  if  they 
did  not  say  this,  they  would  act  as  though  they  did,  — '  It  is 
really  shameful  that  there  is  this  trouble  with  Mr.  El- 
dridge when  there  is  no  good  reason  for  it.  He  has  been 
very  useful  here  ;  and,  but  for  this  opposition  from  a  few 
restless  .individuals,  he  might  continue  to  be  useful  ;  but, 
then,  those  who  are  opposed  to  him  will  not  be  easy  till 
he  is  dismissed  ;  and  we  don't  know  but  that,  all  things  con- 
sidered, it  will  be  better  to  let  him  go  than  to  contend.  He  is 
such  a  good  man  and  such  a  smart  preacher  that  he  would 
not  be  troubled  any  to  get  another  parish,  and  perhaps  a 
much  better  one  than  this.'  " 

"If  our  people  ever  do  act  in  this  manner,"  said  Mrs. 
Clay,  with  great  decision,  "  I  hope  they  will  be  made  to 
smart  for  it." 

"You  and  I  will  keep  a  sharp  lookout  for  our  crooked 
sticks,  won't  we,  Mrs.  Clay  ?  "  said  Mrs.  Davidson. 

"  That  is  the  only  way  for  a  people  to  do,"  the  squire 
remarked. ^  "If  our  parishes  would  realize  the  danger  they 
are  in  of  being  disturbed  by  a  few  uneasy  and  unprinci- 
pled persons,  and  would  be  resolute  in  putting  down  the 
slightest  attempts  at  disorganization,  we  should  not  hear 
of  so  many  dismissions  of  ministers.  There  would  be 
more  stability  in  our  churches  and  a  greater  permanency 
to  the  pastoral  relation." 
G* 


C  PI  AFTER    V.* 


THE  PASTOR  A  MAN  OF  PRAYER. 

THE  attention  of  several  gentlemen  having  been  at- 
tracted to  some  landed  property  belonging  to  the  parish 
of  Mr.  Eldridge,  who  expressed  a  desire  to  purchase  the 
same,  and  for  which  a  liberal  sum  was  offered,  a  parish 
meeting  was  called  for  the  consideration  of  the  subject. 
After  suitable  discussion  it  was  voted  to  commit  the  sale 
of  the  land  to  a  committee  of  which  Squire  Davidson, 
Deacons  Smith  and  Barnes,  and  Mr.  Clay  were  a  part. 
This  committee  having  had  three  sessions,  so  far  completed 
the  negotiation  as  to  be  able  with  a  little  further  atten- 
tion to  announce  to  the  individuals  desiring  to  purchase 
their  readiness  to  consummate  a  sale.  They  accordingly 
adjourned  their  third  meeting  to  the  evening  on  which  the 
next  weekly  prayer  meeting  would  be  held,  when,  on  the 
conclusion  of  the  services,  they  would  finish  what  remained 
to  be  done  for  the  completeness  of  their  work. 

At  the  termination  of  the  next  prayer  meeting,  Mrs. 

*  In  this  and  a  few  subsequent  chapters  will  be  presented  the  elements  of 
Mr.  Eldridge's  character  as  they  were  developed  in  the  course  of  three  years 
from  the  commencement  of,  his  ministry  and  which  in  all  parts  of  the  parish 
were  accorded  to  him.  It  may  be  well  here  to  state  that,  in  the  subsequent 
years  of  his  ministry  to  the  same  people,  iiwtead  of  waning  in  the  least,  this 
character  shone  with  a  brighter  lustre,  as  was  from  time  to  time  conceded  and 
with  pride  acknowledged  by  his  parishioners.  The  remembrance  of  this  cir- 
cumstance by  the  reader  will  aid  much  in  understanding  the  sequel. 

(CO) 


THE  PASTOR  A  MAN  OP  PRAYER.  67 

Davidson,  with  her  characteristic  politeness,  invited  such 
ladies  as  were  in  the  care  of  the  committee  to  accompany 
her  home  and  there  remain  whilst  the  committee  were  in 
session.  Accordingly  Mrs.  Smith  and  Mrs.  Clay  accepted 
the  invitation  and  directly  proceeded  to  the  house  of  Mrs. 
Davidson,  which  was  situated  at  but  a  little  distance  from 
the  vestry.  Upon  entering  the  room  they  were  warmly 
greeted  by  aunt  Sarah  and  Miss  Frances,  and  after  a  little 
time  the  whole  company  were  engaged  in  most  interesting 
conversation.  Aunt  Sarah,  ever  interested  in  things  per- 
taining to  godliness,  did  not  long  forbear  to  inquire  after 
the  services  of  the  devotional  season  in  which  those  who 
had  just  entered  the  room  had  been  participating.  In  re- 
ply to  her  question,  Mrs.  Clay  remarked, — 

"  0,  yes,  Miss  Davidson  ;  we  have  had  a  most  precious 
meeting  this  evening,  I  assure  you.  I  wish  it  had  been  in 
your  power  to  be  there.  You  are  not  aware  what  a  great 
loser  you  are  in  being  unable  to  unite  with  us  in  these 
weekly  seasons  of  prayer.  They  are  so  heavenly  and 
sweet  as  makes  me  always  regret  when  they  close." 

"  It  would  be  a  great  privilege,  I  know,"  said  aunt  Sa- 
rah, "to  attend  these  meetings,  and  I  feel  it  to  be  a 
most  severe  trial  in  being  deprived  of  it.  I  rejoice,  how- 
ever, that  others  are  blessed  with  it  and  that  there  is  so 
much  spirituality  on  the  part  of  our  church,  which  makes 
these  prayer  meetings  so  precious." 

"  There  might  be  much  more  spirituality  in  the  members 
of  the  church  who  attend  these  meetings,"  Mrs.  Clay  re- 
marked. "  I  wonder  that  there  is  not  more,  when  we  have 
such  a  godly  and  praying  pastor.  It  is  to  Mr.  Eldridge 
that  our  prayer  meetings  owe  their  interest.  Were  it  not 
for  him,  I  fear  these  seasons  would  not  be  so  profitable  as 
they  now  are.  It  always  seems  to  me  that  his  whole  soul 
is  absorbed  with  God  and  Christ  and  desires  to  have 
all  the  people  under  the  power  of  religion.  I  never  heard 


68          A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

a  minister  pray  as  he  does  or  seize  hold  of  circumstances 
and  events  to  interest  and  excite  the  people  to  prayer." 

"  I  have  always  thought,"  said  aunt  Sarah,  "  that  our 
pastor  was  a  very  devout  man,  from  his  conversation  and 
prayers  here  when  he  calls.  I  am  always  exceedingly 
pleased  when  he  comes  in,  for  I  know  I  am  to  have  a  rich 
spiritual  feast." 

"  Did  you  ever  know  our  prayer  meetings  so  fully  at- 
tended, Mrs.  Davidson,  as  they  have  been  almost  from  the 
very  first  of  .Mr.  Eldridge's  being  with  us?"  Mrs.  Clay 
inquired. 

"I  am  not  aware,"  Mrs.  Davidson  replied,  "  that  there 
ever  was  before  so  large  an  attendance  when  there  was 
no  special  religious  interest." 

"  In  a  revival  season  I  think  I  never  saw  more  out/' 
Mrs.  Smith  remarked,  "  than  are  now,  or  than  there  have 
been  for  most  of  the  time  since  Mr.  Eldridge  has  been 
with  us.  People  come  from  all  parts  of  the  town  —  from 
Union  Village,  and  even  from  Hard  Scrabble." 

"  You  know,"  said  Mrs.  Clay,  "that  it  is  a  very  common 
remark  among  our  people  that  our  minister  is  great  at 
prayer  and  makes  the  prayer  meetings  very  interesting. 
People  in  our  neighborhood,  when  they  call  in  to  see  us, 
often  speak  of  Mr.  Eldridge's  prayers  and  of  their  deep 
interest  in  being  present  at  his  prayer  meetings.  Old  Mr. 
Osgood  was  in  last  week,  and  he  had  much  to  say  of  Mr. 
Eldridge  in  this  respect." 

"  He  was  jesting,  I  suppose,"  said  Frances. 

"I  thought  he  was  at  first,"  Mrs.  Clay  replied,  "and 
answered  him  accordingly  ;  but  he  really  seemed  hurt  that 
I  did  not  consider  him  sincere  in  his  expressions  of  inter- 
est in  Mr.  Eldridge." 

"  I  am  really  glad  to  hear  of  this,"  aunt  Sarah  said. 
"  Mr.  Osgood  may  be  a  converted  man  yet." 

"  I  have  noticed,  of  late,"  said  Mrs.  Davidson,  "  that  he 


THE   PASTOR   A    MAN   OF   PRAYER.  69 

has  been  at  meeting  on  the  Sabbath,  and  thought  that  the 
circumstance  denoted  interest  in  Mr.  Eldridge." 

"  0,  he  is  much  interested  in  him,"  Mrs.  Clay  said. 
!t  There  can  be  no  mistake  about  this.  He  has  had  much 
to  say  of  a  visit  Mr.  Eldridge  made  lately  at  his  house,  and 
he  thinks  him  the  best  minister  he  ever  knew." 

"  If  I  mistake  not,"  said  Mrs.  Smith,  "  I  have  seen  him 
out  lately  at  some  of  our  prayer  meetings." 

"  Yes,"  replied  Mrs.  Clay.  "  He  has  been  there  several 
times  ;  and  he  tells  me  he  intends  to  go  as  often  as  he  can, 
he  is  so  much  pleased  with  Mr.  Eldridge's  prayers  and 
exhortations." 

"  I  think  this  intelligence  of  Mr.  Osgood  is  very%en- 
couraging,"  said  Mrs.  Davidson,  "  If  Mr.  Osgood  is  inter- 
ested in  Mr.  Eldridge's  services,  we  can  hope  that  all  oth- 
ers will  be  who  have  hitherto  been  indifferent  to  religious 
concerns." 

"  Certainly,"  said  aunt  Sarah,  "  there  is  reason  for  such 
a  hope  ;  for  I  always  supposed  Mr.  Osgood  to  be  almost, 
if  not  quite,  an  infidel." 

"  0,  yes,"  said  Mrs.  Clay  ;  "  he  was  an  infidel  at  the 
time  Mr.  Eldridge  was  ordained,  and  had  been  such  for 
many  years ;  he  has  often  told  me  this.  He  has  told  me 
that  he  heard. so  much  about  Mr.  Eldridge's  prayers  and 
other  services  that  he  thought  he  would  go  and  hear  him 
preach.  After  going  once  he  wanted  to  go  again  ;  and 
so,  he  said,  '  I  have  got  to  be  a  pretty  constant  hearer.  I 
think  he  is  a  good  man  if  there  be  one  on  earth,  and  that 
he  is  very  sincere ;  and  I  can't  help  feeling  sometimes 
when  I  hear  him  pray.'" 

"  Mr.  Osgood  may  be  the  means  of  inducing  others  over 
whom  he  has  influence  to  follow  his  example,"  aunt  Sa- 
rah said. 

"  That  is  very  probable,"  said  Mrs.  Clay.  "  I  think  he 
has  attempted  to  persuade  some  of  his  companions  in  sin. 


70  A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

to  go  to  meeting.     He  told  me  that  he  thought  he  should 
see  Mr.  Tibbits  in  church  before  long." 

"  He  was  there  last  Sabbath,"  Frances  said. 

"  0,  yes,"  Mrs.  Davidson  remarked  ;  "  I  saw  him  there, 
and  was  much  surprised.  Mr.  Osgood  was  the  means  un- 
doubtedly of  his  attendance.  That  will  be  a  happy  cir- 
cumstance for  Mrs.  Tibbits.  How  much  she  has  desired 
that  her  husband  would  attend  church ! " 

"  If  Mr.  Osgood  has  become  interested  in  going  to  meet- 
ing," said  aunt  Sarah,  "  I  presume  his  family  will  be  more 
happy  than  formerly." 

"They  are  so  already,"  Mrs.  Clay  replied.  "You  can- 
not^ imagine  what  a  new  face  Mrs.  Osgood  now  wears. 
You  know  how  sad,  dejected,  and  forlorn  she  formerly 
appeared  ;  and  now  she  is  cheerful,  sociable,  and  very 
happy." 

"  Poor  woman  !  "  said  Mrs.  Davidson  ;  "  how  much  she 
has  suffered  in  years  past !  She  formerly  was  in  the  habit 
of  coming  here  to  tell  us  something  of  her  trials.  Her 
husband,  when  he  saw  her  with  the  Bible,  would  be  in  the 
greatest  rage,  would  seize  the  book  and  wrest  it  from  her, 
and  then  would  tear  it  up  leaf  by  leaf  and-  put  it  into  the 
fire.  She  has  told  me  that  he  has  destroyed  several  Bi- 
bles for  her  in  this  manner.  He  would  storm  most  blas- 
phemously about  religion,  and  ministers,  and  every  thing 
connected  with  the  Bible." 

.    "Indeed!"  Mrs.  Clay  said,  mournfully.     "I  never  heard 
any  thing  of  it  before." 

"  It  is  all  true,"  aunt  Sarah  said.  "  I  never  pitied  a 
woman  more  in  my  life  than  I  have  Mrs.  Osgood.  She 
told  me  once  that  her  husband  was  so  incensed  at  his  little 
boy  for  crying  hard  to  go  to  meeting  that  he  took  him 
and  gave  him  the  most  severe  whipping  that  he  ever  gave 
one  of  the  children,  and  that  weeks  passed  before  the  little 
fellow  recovered  from  the  effects  of  the  blows." 


THE  PASTOR  A   MAN  OF  PRAYEE.  71 

"0,  dear  me!"  said  Mrs.  Clay.  "How  could  he  be  so 
cruel  ?  He  does  not  appear  like  such  a  man  now." 

"  He  is  not  naturally  a  cruel  man,"  aunt  Sarah  said  ; 
"but  he  is  very  excitable,  and  he  was  formerly  bitter  in 
his  opposition  to  the  Bible,  Sabbath,  and  every  thing  con- 
nected with  religion." 

"What  you  have  now  said,"  Mrs.  Clay  remarked,  "ex 
plains  some  things  Mr.  Osgood  has  said  to  me.  He  has 
told  me  that  he  has  not  done  just  right  in  time  past  about 
going  to  meeting  himself  and  having  his  family  go  like- 
wise ;  but  I  thought  he  did  not  refer  to  any  thing  uncom- 
mon that  he  may  have  done  in  the  matter." 

"  0,  he  did,  I  think,"  said  aunt  Sarah.  "  He  doubtless 
thought  how  wickedly  he  had  acted  towards  his  wife  and 
children.  I  rather  think  he  has  not  much  pleasure  in 
thinking  of  what  he  formerly  did  to  them." 

"  Well,  if  he  now  sees  his  wrongs  and  repents  of  them, 
that  is  encouraging,"  Frances  said. 

"  It  is  truly  so,"  Mrs.  Smith  replied  ;  "  and  we  ought  to 
be  grateful  that  God  has  sent  us  a  minister  to  be  instru- 
mental of  good  to  such  .a  man  as  Mr.  Osgood." 

"  We  ought  so,"  Mrs.  Davidson  remarked.  "  There  is 
no  earthly  blessing  more  to  be  valued  than  a  devout  and 
devoted  minister." 

"  I  think,"  -said  aunt  Sarah,  "  it  must  be  acknowledged 
that  our  pastor  is  all  that." 

"  Yes,"  Mrs.  Smith  said.  "  People  in  all  parts  of  the 
parish  will  acknowledge  this  to  be  true  of  Mr.  Eldridge. 
Mr.  Kent,  who  lives  near  us,  remarked  in  at  our  house, 
not  long  since,  that  he  heard  more  said  of  Mr.  Eldridge's 
prayers  than  he  ever  before  heard  of  the  prayers  of  all 
other  ministers." 

"  That  is  considerable  for  him  to  say,"  Frances  replied. 
"  I  did  not  know  that  he  could  use  his  tongue  for  any  other 
purpose  than  to  speak  of  making  money." 


72  A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

"  Why.  Frances ! "  exclaimed  her  motlier.  "  Are  you  not 
rather  severe?" 

-  "Well,  Mrs.  Smith,"  said  Frances,  "does  Mr.  Kent 
have  much  to  say  about  any  thing  but  his  bargains  and 
property  ?  " 

"Property  is  a  pretty  engrossing  subject  with  him,  I 
confess,"  Mrs.  Smith  replied. 

"Then,  mother,"  said  Frances,  "do  you  think  I  was 
much  out  of  the  way?" 

"0,"  said  Mrs.  Davidson,  "I  never  knew  much  of  Mr. 
Kent.  I  seldom  see  him  but  at  church." 

"  Nor  do  I,"  said  Frances  ;  "  and  Sunday  noons,  when  I 
come  out  from  the  Sabbath  school,  I  frequently  overhear 
some  of  his  conversation  as  he  stands  about  the  door  or 
in  the  yard,  and  it  is  all  about  what  he  has  bought  or  is 
intending  to  buy,  or  something  similar." 

"  You  have  a  pretty  correct  idea  of  the  man,"  Mrs. 
Smith  said,  smiling. 

"  Mr.  Kent,  then,  thinks  our  minister  is  a  prayerful 
man?"  said  aunt  Sarah. 

"  0,  yes,"  said  Mrs.  Smith.  "  He  had  considerable  to 
say  about  Mr.  Eldridge  in  this  respect.  He  told  me  that 
Mr.  Lawrence  said  to  him  lately,  that,  if  he  should  happen 
to  be  a  special  subject  of  Mr.  Eldridge's  prayers,  he  would 
surely  be  converted.  He  asked  me  if  I  thought  Mr.  El- 
dridge prayed  much  in  private." 

"  That  is  rather  a  singular  question,"  Mrs.  Davidson  re- 
marked ;  "  and  an  impertinent  one  likewise,  I  should 
think." 

"  Perhaps  Mr.  Kent  had  better  inquire  of  the  little  girl 
who  lives  with  Mr.  Eldridge,"  aunt  Sarah  said.  "  She 
might  give  him  a  little  insight  into  Mr.  Eldridge's  private 
devotions." 

"  What  do  you  refer  to  ?  "  asked  Mrs.  Davidson.  "  Does 
little  Maria  talk  about  Mr.  Eldridge  in  this  respect  ?  " 


THE  PASTOR  A  MAN   OF   PRAYER.  73 

Aunt  Sarah,  with  a  smile,  proceeded  to  say  that  last 
week,  when  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eldridge  called  to  leave  the  lit- 
tle girl  to  remain  here  whilst  they  were  away  from  town, 
she  had  considerable  conversation  with  her  about  the  min- 
ister's family.  "  I  do  not  now  remember  what  occasioned 
the  remark  ;  but  the  little  girl  said,  '  Mr.  Eldridge  prays  a 
great  deal  in  his  study.'  I  asked  her  how  she  knew  that 
lie  was  praying,  and  not  reading  aloud.  '  0,'  said  she, 
'  I  hear  him  say,  "  0  Lord,  I  beseech,  I  pray,"  &c.'  I 
asked  her  if  he  prayed  every  day.  She  replied  that  she 
hears  him  very  often  at  prayer." 

"  Maria  would  not  be  bad  authority  in  the  case,  I  con- 
fess," said  Mrs.  Smith.  "  I  rather  think  I  will  refer  Mr. 
Kent  to  her  if  he  ever  should  ask  me  the  question  again." 

"  You  never  told  me,  sister,  of  this  conversation  with 
Maria.  She  told  you  this  when  I  was  out,  I  suppose,"  re- 
marked Mrs.  Davidson. 

"  0,  yes,  you  were  out,"  said  aunt  Sarahf  "  I  remember. 
I  never  thought  it  worth  while  to  repeat  what  the  child 
said,  and  should  not  now  have  done  so  but  for  the  ques- 
tion which  Mr.  Kent  put  to  Mrs.  Smith.  She  gave  me  no 
new  information.  I  took  it  for  granted  that  Mr.  Eldridge 
was  a  very  devoted  closet  Christian." 

"  0,  yes,"  said  Mrs.  Clay  ;  "  his  sermons  prove  this. 
He  could  not  produce  the  sermons  that  he  gives  us  were 
he  not  assisted  in  his  preparations  from  above." 

"  He  could  not,  indeed,"  Mrs.  Davidson  said.  "  Any 
Christian  can  see  from  his  whole  manner  that  he  enjoys 
refreshings  from  his  Savior  of  no  ordinary  character." 

Mr.  Clay  now  entering  the  room  where  the  ladies  were 
sitting,  unaccompanied  by  either  the  deacon  or  the  squire, 
a  little  concern  was  manifested  by  Mrs.  Smith  and  Mrs. 
Davidson  at  the  cause  of  the  protracted  absence  of  their 
respecti  v*  husbands.  This  was,  howe\er,  at  once  abated 
by  the  remark  of  Mr.  Clay  that  the  deacon  had  gone  to 
7 


74  A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

the  store  to  make  a  few  purchases,  and  that  the  squire  accom- 
panied him.  The  conversation  of  the  company  was  then 
directed  to  the  business  which  had  been  occupying  the 
committee  and  to  other  desultory  subjects,  which  afforded 
them  both  entertainment  and  instruction  for  nearly  an 
hour.  Mrs.  Smith  at  last  became  impatient  for  the  ar- 
rival of  her  husband,  knowing  that  she  had  three  miles  to 
ride  before  reaching  home.  Looking  at  the  clock  and 
seeing  that  the  hour  was  nearly  that  of  ten,  she  remarked, — 

"  I  should  really  like  to  know  what  detains  Mr.  Smith 
till  this  late  hour." 

"  You  need  not  be  concerned  about  him,"  said  Mrs.  Da- 
vidson ;  "  for  he  is  in  good  company" 

Soon,  however,  all  anxiety  was  removed  by  the  presence 
of  the  tardy  husbands ;  and  Mrs.  Davidson  at  once  re- 
marked,— 

"  Your  wife,  deacon,  has  been  much  alarmed  about  you 
to-night,  and  I'did  not  know  but  that  I  should  have  to 
send  for  you." 

"  It  is  rather  a  late  hour  at  which  to  be  three  miles  from 
home,  I  confess,"  said  the  deacon  ;  "  but  I  could  not  very 
well  break  away  before." 

"What  has  detained  you,  husband?"  Mrs.  Smith  in 
quired. 

"Mr.  Osgood  was  in  the  store,"  the  deacon  replied, 
"  who  had  considerable  he  seemed  very  anxious  to  commu- 
nicate ;  and  so  we  remained  to  hear." 

"Ah,"  exclaimed  Mrs.  Clay,  with  a  glow  of  the  deep- 
est interest,  "  have  you  been  conversing  with  Mr.  Osgood  ? 
He  interested  you,  I  presume,  judging  from  the  pleasant 
interview  I  had  with  him  last  week  when  he  called  at  our 
house." 

"  What  he  said  was  very  encouraging,"  the  deacon  re- 
marked. "  I  had  no  idea  the  man  was  in  such  a  state  of 
mind.' 


THE  PASTOR  A  MAN  OP  PRAYER.  75 

"  What  is  his  state  of  mind  ?  "  Mrs.  Davidson  inquired 
with  much  feeling. 

"  He  hopes  he  has  become  a  Christian,  ma'am  ;  and  he  is 
full  of  wonder  at  the  mercy  of  God  for  having  continued 
him  so  long  in  the  world,  when  his  sins  have  been  so 
great.  He  wept  like  a  child  as  he  spoke  of  his  former 
treatment  of  his  wife  and  children,  and  of  his  own  expres- 
sions about  God,  the  Bible,  ministers,  and  all  things  of  a 
religious  character." 

"  Indeed !  Is  that  possible  ?  can  it  be  true  ?  "  said  Mrs. 
Davidson. 

"  Is  any  thing  too  hard  for  the  Lord  ?  "  aunt  Sarah  in- 
quired. 

"  Wonderful,  it  is  wonderful,  if  Mr.  Osgood  has  become 
a  Christian,"  exclaimed  Mrs.  Davidson. 

"  Yes,"  the  squire  remarked,  "  it  is  wonderful ;  but  I  really 
believe  Mr.  Osgood  is  a  new  man.  His  conversation  de- 
notes great  sincerity  and  very  deep  feeling.  He  observed 
that  he  had  been  interested  in  religion  for  two  or  three 
years ;  that  what  excited  this  interest  was,  noticing  how 
much  importance  Mr.  Eldridge  attached  to  prayer  when 
he  called  at  his  house,  and  how  earnest  and  sincere  he 
was  when  praying  for  all  the  family,  and  especially  for 
himself.  Said  he,  'When  Mr.  Eldridge  first  called  at 
our  house  there  was  something  in  his  appearance  that 
made  me  almost  love  him  ;  and  when  he  called  again  and 
I  saw  more  of  him,  I  yas  almost  afraid  to  be  where  he 
was,  I  felt  so  ashamed  of  my  past  life;  but,'  said  he,  'I 
wanted  to  hear  him  pray  ;  for  I  felt  that  he  was  no  hypo- 
crite.' If  I  had  not  been  persuaded  that  he  was  a  very' 
godly  and  prayerful  man,  he  never  would  have  interested 
me  more  than  other  ministers  have  done.  I  have  ever 
been  pleased  to  have  Mr.  Eldridge  call  and  to  be  where 
he  is.'  Said  he,  '  Squire,  you  never  saw  me  at  meeting 
-much  till  since  Mr.  Eldridge  was  settled,  and  you  never 


76          A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PAESONAGE. 

saw  me  at  a  prayer  meeting  till  lately  ;  and  I  bless  God 
that  he  sent  Mr.  Eldridge  here ;  for  no  one  else  could 
have  made  the  impressions  on  me  which  that  man  has.'" 

"  Has  Mr.  Osgood  seen  our  pastor  lately  ?  "  aunt  Sarah 
inquired. 

"  I  asked  him  that  question,  sister,  and  he  said  that  he 
had  not.  He  said  that  it  was  not  a  week  since  he  in- 
dulged a  hope  that  he  was  a  Christian,  and  that  he  had 
had  no  time  since  to  see  Mr.  Eldridge  or  hardly  any  one 
else." 

"  "What  great  good  Mr.  Osgood  may  yet  be  instrumental 
in  doing  ! "  Mrs.  Davidson  said. 

"  It  appeared  to  be  a  great  object  with  him,"  said  the 
squire,  "  to  endeavor  to  do  good.  He  told  us  that  he  had, 
in  years  past,  labored  hard  to  prejudice  his  friends  against 
religion,  but  that  now  he  intended  to  labor  as  hard  to  per- 
suade them  to  seek  religion.  He  said  he  had  already  had 
conversation  with  several  of  his  acquaintance  upon  the 
subject." 

"  I  dare  say,"  said  aunt  Sarah,  "  that  we  shall  soon  hear 
of  more  cases  like  this  of  Mr.  Osgood." 

"  It  is  to  be  hoped  so,"  Mrs.  Smith  remarked.  "  Mr. 
Eldridge  will  be  much  encouraged,  and  so  will  others." 

"  Mr.  Osgood,"  the  deacon  observed,  "  thinks  that  we 
shall  soon  have  a  great  revival.  He  says  people  are  very 
much  interested  in  the  minister,  and  are  persuaded  that  he 
is  a  very  holy  and  prayerful  man^and  are  led  to  think 
much  of  what  he  says  to  them  on  this  account." 

"  I  think  there  is  now  very  good  reason  to  expect  a  re- 
vival," said  aunt  Sarah.  "  I  have  long  thought  we  should 
have  one  in  answer  to  our  pastor's  prayers,  jf  not  to  those 
of  any  others'." 


CHAPTER    VI. 

THE  PASTOE  A  SOUND  THEOLOGIAN  AND   DILIGENT  STUDENT. 

IT  was  an  article  of  agreement  with  Mr.  Eldridge  at 
the  period  of  his  settlement  that  he  should  have  an  annual 
vacation  of  four  weeks  at  any  period  of  the  year  which 
would  best  accord  with  his  interest  or  pleasure.  This  va- 
cation he  highly  valued  as  furnishing  him  with  an  opportu- 
nity to  relax  from  his  severe  pursuits.  He  improved  it  in 
visiting  cherished  friends  and  such  places  as  would  allow 
him,  without  much  intellectual  effort,  to  be  adding  to  his 
storehouse  of  knowledge.  One  such  period  of  respite 
from  parochial  toil  he  passed  on  the  consecrated  hill 
where  he  pursued  his  preparatory  theological  studies. 
Another  found  him  at  the  Capitol  of  his  country,  the  at 
tentive  listener  to  important  debates  in  Congress  by  men 
whose  eloquence  and  fame  were  the  pride  of  their  con 
stituents  and  the  glory  of  the  nation.  The  vacation  he 
took  in  the  fourth  year  of  his  pastorate  was  spent  among 
the  hills  of  his  native  state,  at  the  home  of  his  childhood 
and  youth.  That  his  wife  and  children  might  have  the 
benefit  of  the  journey  and  the  pleasure  of  knowing  the 
scenes  arid  the  places  which  in  his  boyish  days  had  en- 
grossed so  many  of  his  hours,  he  made  this  journey  in  a 
private  carriage. 

A  licentiate  from  Andover,  whose  parents  resided  in  an 
adjacent  town,  was  engaged  by  the  parish  committee  to 

7  *  (77) 


78  A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

supply  the  pulpit  of  the  pastor  for  the  Sabbaths  he  might 
be  absent.  As  one  of  these  Sabbaths  would  be  the  regu- 
lar period  for  the  communion  service,  Mr.  Eldridge  sug- 
gested that  the  young  man  might  effect  an  exchange  for 
that  day  with  his  own  pastor,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Fisher  ;  which 
was  accordingly  done.  As  the  house  of  Squire  Davidson 
was  near  the  church,  and  Mr.  Fisher  being  in  feeble  health, 
he  was  directed  to  make  this  hospitable  mansion  the  place 
of  his  rest  and  refreshment.  If  such  direction  had  not 
been  given,  the  horse  of  Mr.  Fisher,  which  had  often 
tested  the  horsepitableness  about  the  premises  of  the  squire, 
would  have  made  it  difficult  for  his  driver  to  pass  the  gate 
without  a  more  resolute  exercise  of  the  whip  than  a  cler- 
gyman would  care  to  practise  on  a  Sabbath  morning, 
especially  when  such  driver  would  account  it  a  fortunate  event 
thus  to  be  brought  up  at  the  door  of  the  individual  who  was 
known  in  all  the  region  as  the  warm  friend  of  the  ministry. 

After  service  in  the  afternoon,  as  the  squire  and  Mr. 
Fisher  were  sitting  together,  the  latter  remarked,  — 

"  I  perceive,  squire,  you  take  the  New  York  Quarterly, 
probably  for  the  sake  of  enjoying  the  articles  which  your 
pastor  furnishes  from  time  to  time." 

"Is  Mr.  Eldridge  a  contributor  to  the  pages  of  that 
work  ?  "  the  squire  exclaimed,  with  much  surprise. 

"  Were  you  not  aware  of  that  ?  "  in  as  much  astonishment, 
though  assumed,  Mr.  Fisher  inquired. 

"  I  was  not,"  most  certainly,"  the  squire  replied.  "  Mr. 
Eldridge  never  mentioned  to  me  that  he  was  a  writer  for 
that  work.  For  the  life  of  me  I  cannot  see  when  he  finds 
time  to  write  for  any  thing  else  than  for  his  pulpit." 

"  That  is  a  capital  article  of  his  in  the  last  number  on 
decrees"  Mr.  Fisher  continued. 

"Did  Mr.  Eldridge  write  that?"  eagerly  inquired  the 
squire. 

'  That  is  from  his  pen,"  Mr.  Fisher  rejoined. 


THE  PASTOR  A   THEOLOGIAN  AND   STUDENT.  79 

"  I  thought  that  article,"  the  squire  said,  "  the  best  of 
the  entire  number.  I  was  exceedingly  interested  in  it  — 
so  much  so  that  I  requested  my  wife  and  sister  to  listen  to 
me  as  I  read  it  to  them." 

"  That  is  my  opinion,  squire.  I  think  there  is  no  other 
article  in  that  number  equal  to  this  written  by  Mr.  El- 
dridge,  both  as  to  literary  and  theological  merit.  Your 
pa'stor  is  getting  to  be  one  of  our  best  theologians." 

"  I  have  thought  for  some  time,"  said  the  squire,  "  as  I 
have  heard  different  ministers  speak  of  him,  that  he  was 
much  regarded  as  a  scholar/' 

"  0,  yes,"  Mr.  Fisher  said  ;  "  and  as  a  theologian  like- 
wise. There  is  no  individual  in  the  association  more  con- 
fided in  for  correct  opinions  on  theological  points  than 
Mr.  Eldridge.  If  we  have  him  to  agree  with  us  we  feel 
that  we  are  not  heretics." 

"  What  is  his  signature  ?  "  the  squire  asked,  at  the  same 
time  rising  to  take  the  quarterly  from  the  table. 

"  CALVIN,"  was  the  reply. 

"  0,  yes,  I  see,"  said  the  squire,  as  his  eye  glanced  at 
the  article.  "  I  have  read  a  large  number  of  communica- 
tions over  that  signature  in  this  work.  Are  they  all  from 
our  pastor  ?  I  have  often  told  my  wife  that  Calvin  was 
the  best  writer  of  the  lot,  and  that  I  really  would  like 
his  acquaintance." 

"  You  will  not  need  any  introduction  to  him,  you  see," 
Mr.  Fisher  remarked. 

"  No  —  no,  sir,"  the  squire  replied  ;  "  I  am  very  happy 
to  know  that  I  am  already  well  acquainted  with  Calvin. 
I  hope  I  shall  ever  value  him  as  he  deserves.  He  is  the 
author,  then,  of  that  series  of  articles  on  sin,"  the  squire 
continued,  highly  delighted  at  the  discovery  of  the  writer 
who  had  interested  him  so  much. 

"  I  perceive,"  Mr.  Fisher  said,  "  that  you  are  somewhat 


80  A   VOICE  FROM  THE  PAESONAGE. 

interested  in  the  nice  points  of  theology,  being  pleased 
with  these  articles  on  decrees  and  on  sin.  It  is  not  often 
that  I  meet  with  a  layman  whose  attention  is  particularly 
taken  by  such  subjects." 

"  I  suppose  you  ministers  think  that  we  common  people 
know  but  little  on  any  other  subject  but  that  which  re- 
lates to  our  own  business,"  the  squire  said,  with  a  rather 
comical  expression  of  countenance,  but  with  great  good 
humor. 

"  That  is  very  far  from  being  the  case  with  me,  I  assure 
you,"  Mr.  Fisher  replied.  "  All  that  I  intended  was,  that 
such  articles  as  those  referred  to,  being  foreign  to  the  busi- 
ness of  other  men  than  clergymen,  would  not  be  likely  to 
attract  the  interested  attention  of  any  but  ministers." 

"  O,  I  understand  perfectly,"  said  the  squire.  "  It  is 
not  often  that  I  find  a  layman  who  is  equally  interested 
with  myself  in  such  subjects.  Perhaps  the  reason  for  this 
is,  that  I  am  oftener  favored  with  the  society  of  clergy- 
men than  most  laymen." 

"  I  am  well  aware,  my  good  sir,"  said  Mr.  Fisher,  "  that 
there  is  a  prophet's  chamber  in  your  house,  and  that  your 
hospitality  to  clergymen  is  often  the  subject  of  their  most 
grateful  remark.  It  is  not,  therefore,  surprising  that  you 
should,  by  your  frequent  intercourse  with  ministers,  be 
much  in  sympathy  with  them,  not  only  in  their  trials,  but 
in  their  reflections  upon  subjects  which  most  interest  them." 

"  I  am  obliged  to  you,"  returned  the  squire,  "  for  the 
honor  you  do  me  by  your  remark." 

"  Those  articles  of  Mr.  Eldridge  must  have  cost  him 
great  research  and  study,"  Mr.  Fisher  observed.  "  I  sup- 
pose he  exchanges  frequently  ;  does  he  not  ?  " 

"  It  is  very  seldom  that  we  hear  any  other  voice  in  our 
pulpit  but  that  of  our  pastor,"  the  squire  replied.  "  He 
does  not  exchange  more  than  eight  or  ten  times  in  the 


THE  PASTOR  A  THEOLOGIAN  AND  STUDENT.  81 

year.  He  never  preaches  old  sermons  that  we  know  of; 
and  it  is  seldom  that  he  preaches  without  notes." 

"  He  is  an  uncommon  man,  I  confess,"  Mr.  Fisher  said. 
"  He  must  be  a  most  diligent  student." 

"  That  he  must,"  said  the  squire,  "  to  accomplish  for  the 
people  here  what  he  does.  I  have  often  wondered  how 
he  could  produce  the  discourses  he  gives  us  with  all 
those  interruptions  to  study  which  the  care  of  our  large 
parish  brings  to  him.  Really,  I  am  at  a  loss  to  determine 
when  he  finds  time  to  write  for  the  press." 

"  He  writes,  not  only  for  this  review,  but  for  others," 
Mr.  Fisher  observed.  "  One  of  the  most  important  dis- 
cussions which  we  have  had  of  late  is  indebted  to  your 
pastor  for  its  chief  interest  and  victory.  He  demolished 
every  argument  of  his  opponents,  and  made  the  old-fash- 
ioned New  England  theology  stand  aloft  and  clear  of  all 
the  trappings  which  sophistry  and  heresy  had  intwined 
about  it." 

"  You  very  much  surprise  me,"  the  squire  said.  "  It  is 
very  singular  I  never  heard  of  this  before.  I  shall  begin 
to  fear  that  we  shall  not  have  our  pastor  long  if  he  is 
such  a  man  with  his  pen  as  you  have  proved  him  to  be." 

"  It  is  by  no  means  singular  that  you  were  ignorant  of 
your  pastor's  efforts  which  I  have  now  mentioned,"  said 
Mr.  Fisher.  "  I  do  not  think  there  are  five  individuals 
who  know  of  them  ;  and  I  would  not  have  been  the  means 
of  adding  you  to  the  number  were  it  not  that  I  know  con- 
fidence can  be  placed  in  you." 

"I  thank  you,  sir,  for  the  compliment.  If  it  be  impor- 
tant that  the  matter  be  preserved  from  the  public,  of 
course  I  will  not  speak  of  it.  Why  does  Mr.  Eldridge 
wish  to  be  unknown  in  his  character  as  a  writer  for  the 
press?"  the  squire  inquired. 

"He  has  told  me  that  he  only  lived  for  his  people," 
Mr.  Fisher  responded  ;  "  that  he  did  not  wish  for  the 


82  ,x--.      A  VOICE  FROM  THE   PARSONAGE. 

annoyance  that  would  be  about  him  were  it  known  that  he 
wrote  for  the  press.  He  remarked  that  he  saw  the  points 
in  the  case  with  different  optics  from  some  who  had  par- 
ticipated in  the  controversy,  and  that  he  thought  he  would 
present  what  he  saw,  hoping  to  be  the  means  of  scattering 
at  least  some  clouds,  if  not  of  producing  a  clear  sky.  You 
need  have  no  apprehension,  sir,  of  losing  your  minister, 
as  you  have  just  now  expressed,  in  his  being  called  to  an- 
other sphere  of  duty  ;  for  I  have  heard  him  repeatedly 
declare,  that,  when  he  had  done  with  his  parish,  he  had  done 
with  every  thing  of  a  public  character." 

"  I  am  glad  to  hear  this  last  remark,"  the  squire  ob- 
served. "  I  trust  it  will  be  long  before  he  will  have  fin- 
ished his  labors  in  his  parish  —  most  sincerely  I  do." 

"  I  presume  such  is  your  wish  and  expectation,"  Mr. 
Fisher  replied,  "  arid  that  there  is  no  reason  to  apprehend 
that,  from  any  action  of  your  parish,  there  will  be  a  suc- 
cessor to  Mr.  Eldridgc  till  death  has  made  a  vacancy  here 
in  the  pastoral  office." 

"  Though  at  present  I  am  not  aware  of  any  dissensions 
in  the  parish  relative  to  Mr.  Eldridgc,"  the  squire  re- 
marked, "yet  who  can  tell  what  a  day  may  bring  forth? 
There  is  such  a  disorganizing  spirit  now  prevalent  in  the 
community  as  makes  it  uncertain  how  long  any  pastor 
will  remain  with  his  people.  Were  our  blessed  Savior 
now  on  the  earth  and  in  the  pastoral  office,  I  fully  be- 
lieve he  would  have  no  better  assurance  of  permanency 
than  he  had  when  he  went  from  city  to  city  in  the  days  of 
his  stay  on  the  earth.  People  at  the  present  day,  for  a 
slight  cause,  or  for  no  cause  at  all,  forget  the  worth  of  a 
pastor  which  had  been  unanimously  conceded  for  years, 
and  turn  him  off  with  all  the  coolness  and  indifference 
that  would  be  manifested  in  parting  from  a  foreigner  of  a 
few  days'  acquaintance." 

"  You  have  not  much  sympathy,  I  perceive,  with   the 


THE  PASTOR  A  THEOLOGIAN  AND   STUDENT.  83 

spirit  of  which  you  speak,"  Mr.  Fisher  observed.  "  I  think 
your  influence  would  preserve  quiet  here  were  there  an 
attempt  to  disturb  the  elements." 

"I  cannot  agree  with  you  at  all,"  the  squire  said.  "  Cer- 
tain elements  exist  in  our  parish,  which,  if  roused,  would 
ride  over  me,  and  all  others  like  me,  in  attempts  to  preserve 
quiet.  Every  parish  is  like  a  volcano  ;  and  the  minister 
is  never  secure  against  an  eruption.  I  am  glad  we  have 
such  a  faithful  pastor  and  such  a  thorough  and  accom- 
plished theologian  as  Mr.  Eldridge  is  reputed  to  be 
abroad.  I  hope  he  will  not  injure  his  health  by  his  in- 
tense application  to  study." 

"  Your  people  are  highly  favored  in  their  pastor,"  Mr. 
Fisher  said.  "  He  is  much  respected  wherever  he  is 
known.  As  a  preacher,  he  is  seldom  surpassed.  There 
is  no  clergyman  who  preaches  for  me  that  is  more  thought 
of  than  Mr.  Eldridge.  The  whole  people  love  to  hear 
him  preach  ;  and  there  is,  I  am  told,  a  greater  attendance 
when  I  exchange  with  him  than  at  any  other  time.  So,  if 
you  do  here  maltreat  him,  you  may  expect  to  have  the 
whole  region  to  condemn  you." 

"  That  would  be  no  consideration  at  all,"  the  squire  re- 
marked. "What  does  a  parish  care  for  the  opinions  of  neigh- 
boring parishes  when  they  are  determined  to  carry  a  point  ?  " 

Mrs.  Davidson  now  entering  the  room,  her  husband  at 
once  said, — 

"  My  dear,  Mr.  Fisher  has  been  giving  me  some  new 
information  respecting  our  pastor." 

"  Ah !     What  is  it,  husband  ?  " 

"  Mr.  Eldridge  is  a  frequent  contributor  to  that  quar- 
terly from  New  York  which  we  take  and  to  other  period- 
icals likewise." 

"  That  is  new,  indeed,"  Mrs.  Davidson  replied. 

"  He  wrote  that  article  in  the  last  number  on  decrees 
•which  I  read  to  you  and  sister." 


84  A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

"  Did  he,  indeed  ?  "  exclaimed  Mrs.  Davidson.  "  How 
much  we  admired  it !  We  should  not  have  been  more  in- 
terested had  we  known  who  the  author  of  it  was  ;  should 


"  No,  not  any  more,  my  dear  ;  so  they  cannot  say  that 
we  admire  Mr.  Eldridge's  sermons  because  we  like  the 
man,  and  for  no  other  reason  ;  can  they  ?  He  writes  the 
articles  over  the  signature  CALVIN,  which  I  have  so  fre- 
quently spoken  of  as  being  uncommonly  excellent." 

"  Was  he  the  author  of  those  articles  ?  Indeed  !  How 
much  you  have  said  in  their  praise ! "  Mrs.  Davidson  ob- 
served. 

"  Mr.  Fisher  tells  me,  likewise,  that  our  pastor  is 
thought  by  the  clergy  about  here  to  be  a  great  theolo- 
gian." 

"  We  think  he  is,  husband  ;  and  why  should  not  others  ? 
You  know  how  deeply  interested  our  people  have  been  in 
the  course  of  lectures  which  Mr.  Eldridge  has  been  de- 
livering." 

"  Course  of  lectures  1 "  said  Mr.  Fisher,  with  surprise. 
"  May  I  ask  on  what  subjects,  madam  ?  " 

"  He  began,  about  a  year  since,"  Mrs.  Davidson  replied, 
"  to  deliver  a  course  of  sermons  on  the  being  of  God,  the 
inspiration  of  the  Scriptures,  and  on  the  doctrines  and 
duties  made  known  in  the  Bible.  The  last  which  he  de- 
livered was  on  the  necessity  of  regeneration.  He  delivers 
one  on  each  Sabbath  morning." 

"  I  never  heard  of  this  before,"  Mr.  Fisher  observed. 
"  Mr.  Eldridge  must  need  much  time  for  the  preparation 
of  these  discourses." 

"  They  could  not  be  hastily  prepared,"  Mrs.  Davidson 
replied,  "  as  is  evident  to  us  all.  Mr.  Eldridge  tells  me 
that  they  cost  him  great  labor  and  research.  They  are 
exceedingly  well  written,  and  as  good  as  any  sermons  I 
ever  read  on  such  subjects.  I  have  been  more  interested 


THE  PASTOR  A  THEOLOGIAN  AND  STUDENT.  85 

in  hearing  him  than  I  ever  was  in  reading  Dr.  D wight  on 
the  same  subjects." 

"  My  dear,  Mr.  Eldridge  is  a  young  man,  and  has  not 
yet  been  settled  in  the  ministry  five  years.  How  can  you 
think  him  superior  to  Dr.  D  wight  ?  "  the  squire  inquired. 

"  I  know  he  is  a  young  man,"  Mrs.  Davidson  replied  ; 
"  but  he  is  a  great  man,  too." 

"  He  must  be  a  very  hard  student  to  accomplish  what 
lie  does,"  Mr.  Fisher  said. 

"  He  is  such,"  Mrs.  Davidson  replied.  "  Mrs.  Eldridge 
tells  me  that  he  is  not  in  bed  on  an  average  more  than  six 
hours ;  that  he  studies  all  the  morning,  and  will  not  be 
interrupted  but  by  some  most  pressing  call  ;  that,  when 
he  visits,  it  is  in  the  afternoon,  and  that  not  more  than 
three  afternoons  of  each  week  are  thus  devoted  ;  and  that 
he  spends  all  his  evenings  in  his  study  when  not  at  the 
lecture,  or  prayer  meeting,  or  a  wedding.  There  can 
be  no  doubt,  therefore,  that  he  is  very  frugal  of  his 
time." 

"  Do  the  people  like  to  have  their  pastor  so  much  con- 
fined to  his  study  ?  "  Mr.  Fisher  inquired.  "  Do  they  not 
wish  him  to  visit  more  than  he  can  in  three  afternoons  of 
the  week?" 

"  There  is  occasionally  a  remark  made  on  the  subject," 
Mrs.  Davidson  said,  "  by  some  who  would  be  better  pleased 
with  a  little  more  pastoral  visiting.  But  the  people  know 
where  their  minister  is  when  he  is  not  among  them,  and  are 
generally  willing  that  he  should  be  in  his  study  if  he  pre- 
fers ;  for  they  feel  that  they  shall  be  more  profited  on  the 
Sabbath  if  he  is  mostly  in  his  study  during  the  week. 
Some  of  us,  however,  are  fearful  that  he  will  break  down 
because  he  is  so  studious." 

"  There  is  not  much  danger  of  that  whilst  he  continues 
in  his  present  habits,"  the  squire  said.  "He  is  very 
8 


86  .T%        A  VOICE   FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

abstemious  and  very  regular  in  his  exercise.  I  rather 
think  he  understands  how  to  take  care  of  his  health." 

"  I  hope  he  does,"  Mrs.  Davidson  remarked.  "  He  is 
such  a  useful  minister  that  it  would  be  lamentable  indeed 
if  he  should  lose  his  health." 

"  I  do  not  perceive  any  indications  of  declining  health," 
said  Mr.  Fisher,  "  as  I  meet  him  from  time  to  time.  He 
endures  well,  I  think." 

"  His  health  is  very  good  at  present,"  said  the  squire  ; 
"  and  I  hope  his  present  journey  will  contribute  to  its  con- 
tinuance. Whilst  he  is  so  highly  esteemed  abroad  among 
his  brethren  for  his  correct  theology  and  varied  accom- 
plishments, I  want  he  should  continue  to  pour  his  light 
around  on  them  all,  some  of  whom  I  fear  are  in*  darkness." 

"Very  true,"  said  Mr.  Fisher,  "very  true.  Some  of 
us  are  in  the  fog  if  not  in  greater  darkness.  All  the 
light  you  can  spare  we  will  receive  and  employ  to  the 
best  possible  advantage.  See  to  it,  if  you  please,  that 
you  do  not  break  the  lamp  from  which  so  much  light  ra- 
diates, or  so  conduct  that  it  mil  be  wrested  from  its  place" 

"  Thank  you,  sir,  for  the  caution,"  the  squire  remarked, 
"  always  a  timely  one ;  and  I  would  that  all  the  people 
might  heed  it." 

After  tea,  as  Mr.  Fisher  was  leaving  for  his  own  parish, 
which  was  distant  only  four  miles,  he  remarked  that  he 
should  go  away  with  very  pleasing  impressions  in  regard 
to  the  prospects  of  his  friend  their  pastor.  His  people 
manifesting  for  him  the  warmest  affection  and  highest 
respect,  and  he  anxiously  and  studiously  devoted  to  their 
best  spiritual  good,  made  his  situation  most  useful  and 
happy. 

"  It  may  be,"  said  the  squire,  "  that  occasion  might  ren- 
der it  expedient  and  useful  for  me  to  divulge  what  you 
have  said  in  regard  to  Mr.  Eldridge.  If  there  be  this 


THE  PASTOR  A  THEOLOGIAN  AND  STUDENT.  87 

occasion,  may  I  say  from  you  that  our  pastor  is  regarded, 
in  the  association  and  by  others  without,  as  a  very  sound 
and  safe  theologian  ?  " 

"  You  may  say  all  that,"  Mr.  Fisher  replied,  "  and  add 
that  he  is  rising  rapidly  in  favor  with  the  great  and  good, 
and  that,  if  he  is  not  well  cared  for  here,  some  other  peo- 
ple will  be  for  attempting  to  improve  his  condition  by 
securing  for  their  own  advantage  his  valuable  services." 


CHAPTER    VII. 

* 

THE  PASTOE  A  PROMOTER  OP  BENEVOLENT   EFFORTS. 

THE  various  enterprises  of  the  times  which  shadow  forth 
that  day  of  glory  when  the  dark  and  direful  effects  of  the  fall 
shall  pass  away,  leaving  in  their  place  the  transcendently 
beautiful  hues  of  righteousness,  had  from  Mr.  Eldridge  the 
warmest  sympathy  and  the  most  energetic  aid.  None  of 
them  escaped  his  eye  nor  were  without  an  impulse  from 
his  aid  ;  for  in  them  all  he  saw  signs  of  triumph  to  that 
cause  to  which  he  had  consecrated  his  life. 

On  a  Monday  morning  following  the  Sabbath  on  which 
-he  had  commended  one  of  these  enterprises  to  his  people 
in  an  earnest  and  truthful  presentation  of  its  worth,  not 
only  to  the  church,  but  to  society  in  general,  Colonel  Pres- 
bury,  Deacon  Barnes,  and  one  or  two  other  gentlemen 
happened  into  the  store  of  Squire  Davidson  about  the 
same  time.  The  conversation  for  a  while  was  upon  the 
great  embarrassments  of  financial  affairs  in  the  country  at 
that  time  prevailing,  and  which  was  almost  every  where 
the  frequent  topic  of  remark.  At  length,  in  apology  per- 
haps for  the  exercise  of  more  than  ordinary  prudence  in 
the  use  of  that  which  "  answereth  all  things,"  Colonel 
Presbury  observed, — 

"  Our  minister,  Deacon  Barnes,  seems  to  think  that  we 
are  not  suffering  much  from  the  scarcity  of  money  ;  he 

(88) 


THE  PASTOR  A   PROMOTER   OF  BENEVOLENCE.  89 

appears  to  feel  that  we  have  enough  yet  and  to  spare.  He 
was  down  upon  us  yesterday  pretty  hard,  I  thought." 

"None  too  hard,"  said  the  deacon.  "Mr.  Eldridge  did 
grandly  yesterday.  Though  he  was  very  earnest,  yet  he 
did  not  oblige  any  to  give  who  were  not  disposed.  He 
left  the  matter  about  right." 

"  Of  course  he  did  not  oblige  any  to  give  ;  for  he  could 
not  do  that,"  the  colonel  replied.  "But,  then,  a  man  can- 
not avoid  doing  something,  after  his  duty  is  made  so  plain 
and  the  cause  so  important  and  imperative.  Besides,  one 
feels  rather  small  in  refusing  to  sign  something  when  his 
neighbors  are  giving  pretty  liberally." 

"I  am  pleased  to  hear  you  admit,"  said  the  deacon, 
"  that  our  minister  exhibits  the  duty  of  benevolence  with 
clearness  and  force,  and  makes  the  particular  cause  he  ad- 
vocates tell  its  own  claims  to  patronage." 

"  Yes,  deacon,  I  suppose  I  must  admit  that ;  if  I  did 
not,  I  should  be  in  a  rather  small  company.  I  think  Mr. 
Eldridge  does  pretty  well  when  he  undertakes  with  the 
pocket.  Somehow  or  other  he  makes  the  money  come. 
But  what  is  the  use  of  his  tak-ing  up  so  many  of  these 
causes,  deacon  ?  He  has  one  a  month,  and  sometimes  two." 

"He  considers  them  all  very  important,  I  suppose ;  as, 
indeed,  they  are.  They  all  seem  to  be  necessary  for  the 
benefit  of  our  fellow-creatures  and  for  bringing  forward 
the  day  when  religion  shall  generally  prevail  and  all 
wickedness  and  oppression  shall  cease." 

"  Well,  deacon,"  said  the  colonel,  "neither  you  nor  I 
will  live  to  see  that  day." 

"  But  we  may  hasten  its  approach,  colonel,  if  we  are 
pretty  liberal  and  perform  our  other  duties  connected  with 
this  great  event." 

"  It  costs  too  much,  deacon,  it  really  costs  too  much  for 
me,"  said  the  colonel,  with  an  expression  of  countenance 
that  made  it  evident  he  was  sincere  in  the  utterance. 


90          A  VOICE  FEOM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

"  Last  year,  what  I  gave  and  what  my  wife  and  daughters 
gave,  after  the  appeals  of  Mr.  Eldridge  from  month  to 
month,  amounted  to  one  hundred  and  twenty-seven  dollars." 

"  I  am  really  glad  he  was  so  successful,"  the  deacon  re- 
plied with  a  smile.  "  If  he  had  obtained  twice  that  amount 
it  would  have  been  no  matter.  Your  purse  is  deep,  you 
know." 

"Really,  colonel,"  said  the  squire,  "you  did  well  last 
year.  I  presume  you  lost  no  sleep  by  your  liberality." 

"  No  ;  but  then  I  lost  some  money.  I  shall  have  to 
stop  giving  if  Mr.  Eldridge  continues  to  call  as  often  as 
he  has  done.  He'll  drain  me  all  dry." 

"You  need  not  flatter  yourself,"  said  the  squire,  "that 
the  calls  upon  you  will  be  any  the  less  frequent  or  urgent 
by  reason  of  any  backwardness  on  the  part  of  our  pastor 
in  soliciting." 

"I  suppose  not,"  the  colonel  mournfully  said;  "I  sup- 
pose not.  Mr.  Eldridge  thinks  he  is  right,  and  there  is  no 
stopping  him  ;  he  will  go  ahead." 

"  I  think  our  people  have  done  very  well  for  a  few  years 
past  in  their  contributions  to  benevolent  objects,"  the 
squire  remarked. 

"  They  were  not  much  disposed  to  give  when  Mr.  El- 
dridge first  came  here,"  Mr.  Parker  said. 

"They  were  not,  that  is  true,"  the  squire  replied. 
"  They  had  not  been  trained  to  benevolent  habits.  We 
are  indebted  to  Mr.  Eldridge  for  this  process." 

"Yes,  yes,  we  are,"  quickly  responded  Colonel  Pres- 
bury.  "  Mr.  Eldridge  has  not  been  slow  in  this  department 
of  labor.  We  have  had  line  upon  line  and  precept  upon 
precept,  here  a  little  and  there  a  good  deal,  by  way  of  in- 
struction and  appeal.  If  it  had  not  been  for  Mr.  El- 
dridge I  should  have  been  a  thousand  dollars  richer  — 
yes,  a  thousand  dollars  richer !  I  was  reckoning  recently 
what  our  family  have  given  that  I  know  of  to  different 


THE  PASTOR  A  PROMOTER  OP  BENEVOLENCE.  91 

benevolent  societies  for  the  last  four  years  ;  and  principal 
and  interest  make  the  amount  a  little  rising  one  thousand 
dollars." 

"  Perhaps,"  said  Deacon  Barnes,  "  you  would  not  have 
been  so  rich  as  you  now  are  by  several  thousand  dollars 
had  not  our  pastor  been  instrumental  in  opening  your 
heart  and  purse  somewhat.  I  believe  public  opinion  de- 
clares that  you  have  added  more  to  yiour  property  for  the 
last  three  years  than  at  any  former  period." 

"  I  have  not  lost  quite  so  much  lately  by  bad  debts  as  I 
formerly  did,"  the  colonel  replied.  "As  for  making 
money,  you  know  any  one  can  do  that." 

"  If  every  one  can  make  money,"  the  deacon  replied, 
"  there  are  very  few  who  succeed  as  you  have  done.  You 
have  been  wonderfully  prospered.  I  hope  you  will  give 
over  two  thousand  dollars  to  benevolent  societies  for  the 
next  four  years  ;  and  I  advise  you  to  resolve  to  do  this,  or 
more,  if  you  wish  to  continue  to  grow  rich.  I  believe  in 
Scripture  promises  and  Scripture  threatenings,  colonel.  I 
believe  in  this  one,  for  instance  :  '  There  is  that  scattereth 
and  yet  increaseth ;  and  there  is  the  withholding  more 
than  is  meet,  and  it  tendeth  to  poverty.' " 

"Well,  well,"  said  the  colonel,  "I  shall  do  in  the  way 
you  mention  for  the  next  four  years,  if  I  should  live,  just 
as  little  as  I  can." 

"  0,  colonel,"  the  deacon  replied,  "  how  can  you  be 
thus  ungrateful  after  having  been  blessed  in  the  period 
when  you  have  been  somewhat  liberal  more  than  in  any 
such  length  of  time  before  ?  " 

"  I  was  not  expecting  such  a  decision  from  you,  colonel," 
said  the  squire,  "  to  give  as  little  as  you  could." 

"  If  I  continue  to  go  to  meeting,"  the  colonel  replied, 
"  and  if  we  have  Mr.  Eldridge  for  our  minister,  I  do  not  be- 
lieve that  it  will  be  possible  for  me  to  give  less  than  two 
thousand  dollars  for  the  next  four  years.  I  tell  you  what, 


92  A  VOICE  FROM  THE   PARSONAGE. 

gentlemen,  Mr.  Eldridge  lias  a  wonderful  faculty  for  get- 
ting away  money." 

"If  this  be  your  feeling,"  said  the  deacon,  "I  am  glad 
of  it.  I  hope  and  believe  Mr.  Eldridge  will  remain  with 
us.  If  you  do  as  you  think  you  are  likely  to  do,  you  may 
advance  very  much  in  property  whilst  you  remain  benevo- 
lent." 

"Now  that  our  pastor  has  gotten  us  in  such  a  good  way 
of  giving,  as  you  call  it,  I  think,"  said  the  colonel,  "  it 
would  be  well  for  him  to  go  to  some  of  the  neighboring 
parishes  and  stir  them  a  little.  Some  of  them  might  be 
benefited,  perhaps,  by  his  services.  I  should  like  to  have 
him  try  some  of  them ;  and  if  he  bled  them  pretty  smartly 
I  would  not  object.  It  would  be  a  capital  plan  for  the 
American  Board  or  some  other  benevolent  society  to  em- 
ploy him.  He  would  raise  the  money  for  them." 

"  The  attempt  has  been  made  by  one  benevolent  society," 
said  the  squire,  "  to  secure  his  services." 

"  It  has ! "  said  the  colonel.  "  He  has  been  invited  to 
leave  us,  then  ?  How  much  salary  has  he  been  offered  ?  " 

"  Much  more  than  he  has  here,"  was  the  reply. 

"  How  lately  was  this  offer  made  him  ?  "  the  colonel  in- 
quired. 

"  About  two  months  since,"  the  squire  said. 

"  He  is  not  intending  to  leave  us,"  the  colonel  remarked, 
"  or  he  would  have  asked  for  a  dismission  before  this,  I 
suppose." 

"  I  think  Mr.  Eldridge  will  not  leave  us  at  present,"  the 
squire  said. 

"  What  a  noble  agent  Mr.  Eldridge  would  make  1 "  Mr. 
Parker  observed.  "  His  heart  is  so  deeply  interested  in 
all  the  benevolent  societies  that  he  would  be  very  likely 
to  infuse  his  own  interest  into  any  audience  he  might  ad- 
dress." 

"  If  he  should  succeed  in  all  con.orefrations  as  he  has  in 


THE  PASTOR  A  PROMOTER  OF  BENEVOLENCE.  93 

our  own,"  said  the  deacon,  "  he  would  truly  accomplish 
great  things  for  any  society  which  might  have  the  good 
fortune  to  secure  his  services." 

"  It  is  sometimes  really  amusing,"  the  squire  observed, 
"  to  hear  what  is  said  of  Mr.  Eldridge's  manner  of  reach- 
ing the  heart.  You  know  Mr.  Andrews  don't  believe  in 
these  benevolent  societies.  A  few  Sabbaths  since  it  was 
announced  that  on  the  next  Sabbath  a  subscription  would 
be  taken  up  in  behalf  of  the  sailors.  In  the  course  of  the 
week  Henry  Andrews  —  a  roguish  fellow,  you  know  —  im- 
portuned his  father  for  five  dollars,  for  the  purpose  of  pur- 
chasing a  gun.  His  father,  being  disinclined  to  give  him 
the  sum,  remonstrated  with  Henry.  He  told  him  that  he 
had  other  and  better  uses  for  his  money,  and  said  a  va- 
riety of  things  to  dissuade  the  boy  from  pressing  his  re- 
quest. Henry  at  last  became  impatient  and  said,  '  You 
will  give  next  Sunday,  I  dare  say,  to  Mr.  Eldridge's  sail- 
ors twice  as  much  as  I  ask  you  for  now.'  His  fathe'r  told 
him  if  he  did,  or  if  he  gave  any  thing,  he  would  certainly 
give  him  five  dollars  with  which  to  buy  the  gun.  Henry 
said  no  more,  but  was  willing  to  wait.  You  remember 
how  very  earnest  and  interesting  Mr.  Eldridge  was  that 
Sabbath  when  he  pleaded  the  cause  of  seamen,  how  elo- 
quently he  described  their  perilous  condition  and  their  in- 
dispensable agency  in  bringing  to  our  shores  the  products 
of  foreign  climes  and  of  taking  to  these  regions  our  own 
surplus  commodities,  and  withal  how  truthfully  he  painted 
the  representative  character  of  the  sailor,  and  thence  de- 
duced the  importance  that  he  be  both  qualified  and  dis- 
posed to  give  the  true  representation  'of  the  land  of  his 
birth.  Well,  after  the  subscription  had  been  taken  and 
the  services  were  closed,  I  met  Henry  Andrews  as  I  was 
passing  out,  and  from  his  looks  I  perceived  he  wished  to 
speak  to  me.  I  addressed  him,  and  gave  him  opportunity. 
So  he  at  once  said  that  he  would  like  to  sec  the  subscrip- 


94  A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

tion  paper  which  had  just  been  circulated.  Taking  the 
paper  from  my  pocket,  I  handed  it  to  him.  I  saw  he 
looked  confused  after  examining  it  a  moment,  and  I  asked 
him  if  I  could  assist  him  in  any  way.  He  said  his  object 
in  looking  at  the  paper  was  to  ascertain  if  his  father's 
name  was  on  it.  I  informed  him  that  it  was,  and  at  once 
showed  it  to  him.  '  Good  —  good?  said  he  ;  '  father  is 
down  for  ten  dollars.'  His  joy  was  so  great  that  I  could 
not  resist  the  promptings  of  my  curiosity,  and  I  asked  him 
what  pleased  him  so  much  at  discovering  that  his  father 
had  given  ten  dollars.  He  then  told  me  the  story  of  the 
gun,  and  appeared  sure  that  he  should  now  have  it." 

"  That  is  pretty  good,"  said  the  colonel.  "  I  knew  Mr. 
Andrews  gave  ten  dollars,  for  I  heard  him  speak  of  it. 
He  said  that  he  did  not  intend  to  give  a  cent.  When  he 
went  to  meeting  he  determined  that  he  would  not  patron- 
ize these  societies  —  that  he  would  keep  his  money  for 
useful  purposes  ;  but  he  said  Mr.  Eldridge  obtained  the 
advantage  of  him.  He  lost  control  of  himself,  and  was 
forced  to  surrender  his  own  judgment  to  the  reasoning 
and  conclusions  of  the  minister  ;  and  he  put  down  ten 
dollars  for  the  sailors." 

"  You  heard  of  the  effect  of  that  sermon  on  Mrs.  Pitch- 
er ;  did  you  not,  colonel  ?  " 

"  I  have  heard  nothing,"  was  the  reply. 

"My  wife  was  telling  me,"  said  the  squire,  "  that  a  sis- 
ter of  Mrs.  Pitcher,  who  resides  in  Boston,  has  been  out 
on  a  visit  lately,  and  that  Mrs.  Pitcher  was  very  much 
taken  up  with  a  silk  dress  worn  by  her  sister,  and  was 
determined  to  have  one  of  a  similar  pattern.  She  sup- 
posed her  husband  would  begrudge  the  money,  and  that 
fifteen  dollars  would  come  hard  from  him  for  a  single 
dress.  However,  she  ventured  to  encounter  his  rebukes 
of  her  extravagance,  and  requested  the  requisite  sum,  at 
the  same  time  saying  that  she  knew  of  no  reason  why  she 


THE  PASTOR  A  PROMOTER  OP  BENEVOLENCE.     95 

should  not  have  a  dress  equal  to  that  of  her  sister.  So, 
after  the  exercise  of  all  her  tact  and  eloquence,  she  suc- 
ceeded in  obtaining  from  her  husband  the  amount  she 
desired.  Her  sister  was  expecting  to  return  home  the 
next  week,  and  Mrs.  Pitcher  was  intending  to  send  by 
her  for  the  dress.  The  Sunday  following  Mr.  Eldridge 
preached  in  behalf  of  seamen  ;  and  when  the  subscription 
paper  was  handed  to  Mr.  Pitcher  he  did  not  look  at  it ; 
but,  being  passed  onward  in  the  pew,  his  wife  took  it  and 
put  down  ten  dollars.  After  she  returned  home  she  ac- 
quainted her  sister  with  the  fact,  and  remarked  that  she 
did  not  know  but  that  she  should  have  to  do  without  her 
silk  dress  ;  for  she  was  so  much  overcome  by  Mr.  El- 
d ridge's  sermon  she  could  not  resist  her  convictions  of 
duty,  and  subscribed  ten  dollars  for  the  sailors." 

"  That's  good !  "  exclaimed  the  colonel.  "  I  am  really 
glad  Mr.  Pitcher  got  bled  so  ;  but  I  hope  his  wife  did  not 
lose  her  dress." 

"  No  ;  she  did  not,"  Mr.  Parker  observed  ;  "  but  her 
husband  was  mighty  poor  for  some  time  afterwards.  I 
had  occasion,  about  that  time,  to  borrow  some  money  for 
a  few  days ;  and,  as  I  had  often  been  accommodated  be- 
fore by  Mr.  Pitcher,  I  called  upon  him  for  the  loan.  He 
replied  that  he  did  not  know  as  he  had  so  much  money  as 
I  wanted  —  that  he  was  poor  and  did  not  know  what  he 
should  do.  '  My  family,'  said  he, '  are  getting  to  be  very 
extravagant.  I  have  had  to  give  Mrs.  Pitcher  lately  thir- 
ty dollars  to  buy  a  dress  ;  but  ten  of  it,  I  hear,  went  to 
dress  the  sailors.'  As  he  said  this  he  looked  not  very 
kindly  at  his  good  wife  ;  but  she  explained  the  matter  and 
laughed  very  heartily  all  the  while  ;  and  I  could  not  avoid 
joining  her.  Her  husband  at  last  was  obliged  to  give  in 
and  laugh  too." 

"  Poor  man  ! "  said  Deacon  Barnes.  "  I  suppose  Mr. 
Pitcher  is  worth  seventy-five  thousand  dollars." 


96  A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

"  Yes,"  said  the  colonel,  "  all  of  that ;  but  he  is  poorer 
than  most  men  who  are  not  worth  five  hundred  dollars.  I 
am  glad  his  wife  gets  some  of  his  money  ;  I  wish  she 
might  obtain  three  hundred  dollars  where  she  now  gets 
but  thirty." 

"  People  don't  seem  to  think  any  the  worse  of  Mr.  El- 
dridge  for  his  efforts  in  raising  money  for  objects  of  be- 
nevolence, do  they,  squire  ?  "  Mr.  Parker  inquired. 

"  Not  that  I  have  heard,"  was  the  reply.  "  I  believe 
they  are  pleased  that  he  is  so  successful." 

"  He  does  some  good  at  home,  I  confess,"  said  the  colo- 
nel, "  when  he  labors  for  money  to  be  sent  abroad.  He 
opens  some  hearts  that  never  showed  any  doors  before. 
Some  people  are  the  better,  I  have  found,  for  giving  ;  they 
are  more  like  human  beings  than  formerly  ;  they  have 
more  feeling ;  they  show  a  better  spirit." 

"  That  is  one  of  the  effects  of  benevolence,"  the  squire 
rejoined.  "  I  have  often  heard  Mr.  Eldridge  remark  that 
he  valued  the  benefits  which  accrued  to  his  own  people 
from  their  giving  about  as  much  as  those  produced  abroad 
by  their  benefactions.  The  reflex  influence  of  benevolence 
he  thinks  very  great  and  powerful." 

"  That  is  a  new  idea  to  me,"  said  Mr.  Bolles,  who  had 
entered  the  store  after  this  conversation  began  ;  "  but 
there  may  be  some  foundation  for  it,  I  confess.  So  Mr. 
Eldridge  is  thinking  of  home  when  he  is  laboring  for  ob- 
jects abroad  ?  " 

"  Certainly,  my  good  sir,"  said  the  squire  ;  "  he  thinks 
of  his  people  first  and  last ;  and  in  all  that  he  undertakes 
he  has  an  eye  to  their  good." 

'•  Well,  then,  no  one  can  blame  him  for  being  so  wide 
awake  in  his  efforts  for  all  the  benevolent  societies,"  Mr. 
Bolles  continued,  "  when  he  sees  that  the  influence  of  the 
liberality  of  his  people  is  to  benefit  them." 

"  I  do  not  sec  how  Mr.  Eldridge  can  be  censured,"  said 


THE  PASTOR  A  PROMOTER  OF  BENEVOLENCE.     97 

the  squire.  "  For  my  part,  I  value  him  the  more  for  his 
energy  and  perseverance  in  advocating  the  different  be- 
nevolent societies.  If  Mr.  Eldridge  imitated  the  example 
of  some  ministers  and  was  silent  in  relation  to  the  calls  of 
.these  societies  through  fear  that  his  activity  would  con- 
flict with  the  attachment  of  his  people  to  their  money,  he 
would  not  accomplish  half  for  our  good  that  he  now  does, 
nor  be  half  so  much  worthy  of  our  love  and  respect." 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

THE  PASTOE'S  ACKNOWLEDGED  CARE  OF  THE  YOUXG. —  IN- 
TEREST IN  THE  AGED  AND  THE  IGNOBLE. 

THE  wealthy  and  learned  in  the  community  are  not  tho 
.  only  individuals  of  influence  ;  there  are  other  classes  who 
at  times  wield  a  tremendous  power.  There  are  those  who 
are  set  aside  by  the  popular  voice  as  incapable  of  much 
effect,  who  nevertheless  exert  an  influence  by  which  the 
greatest  ends  are  sometimes  achieved.  It  often  becomes 
important  to  collect  the  scattered  fragments  of  influence  • 
and  for  this  purpose  the  partisans  enthusiastically  engaged 
in  achieving  a  triumph  for  their  cause  with  the  greatest 
energy  and  perseverance  explore  every  nook  and  corner 
of  society  to  discover  any  thing  to  aid  them,  and  with  joy 
and  exultation  hail  any  power,  however  feeble  or  obscure, 
which  promises  the  least  assistance  in  accomplishing  their 
object.  This  last  source  of  power,  though  usually  ac- 
counted by  the  multitude  as  of  little  moment,  is  yet  often 
great  and  decisive,  both  in  the  arena  of  political  and  civil 
strife  and  in  ecclesiastical  concerns.  As  a  party  in  either 
sphere  may  have  such  power  in  its  favor,  so  its  vote  is 
triumphant  and  its  cause  victorious.  The  little  children 
of  a  religious  community,  who  are  never  consulted  when 
their  parents  are  canvassing  the  qualifications  of  the  dif- 
ferent candidates  in  nomination  for  political  promotion, 
and  the  aged  men  and  women,  who  are  contemplated  as  in 

(98) 


THE  PASTOR'S  CARE  OF  THE  YOUNG,  ETC.  99 

waiting  for  an  introduction  to  another  sphere  of  existence, 
having  long  since  been  made  of  no  practical  account  in 
the  one  where  they  are  now  numbered,  and  the  poor  and 
ignoble,  who  are  regarded  more  like  an  incubus  than  a 
blessing  to  society,  are  made  to  come  forth  at  times  in  a 
parish  and  exert  a  power  that  controls  the  destiny  of  its 
pastor.  Hence  it  is  always  considered  a  fortunate  posi- 
tion for  a  pastor  when  he  has  the  interest  of  the  children 
enlisted  in  his  favor  —  when  he  has  the  expressions  of  love 
and  attachment  from  the  poor  and  the  ignoble.  Hence, 
too,  a  minority  opposed  to  a  minister  account  it  much  to 
their  advantage  when  able  truthfully  to  report  that  he  is 
lightly  esteemed  by  the  children  and  un  object  of  dislike 
by  the  poor  and  the  lower  classes  of  society. 

Whatever  was  the  motive  of  Mr.  Eldridge,  or  whether 
he  was  prompted  by  any  specific  policy  in  his  movements, 
one  thing  was  very  apparent ;  and  that  was,  that  he  had 
the  blessings  of  the  aged  abundantly  upon  him,  the  warm- 
est affection  of  the  poor  bursting  forth  from  hut  and  hovel 
at  his  side,  as  well  as  all  the  interest  which  sparkling  eyes 
and  prattling  tongues  of  children  could  convey  whenever 
the  pastor  was  in  their  circle  or  his  name  mentioned  in 
their  presence. 

"  What  are  those  boys  and  girls  trying  to  do  ?  "  said 
Mr.  Lovell,  from  New  York  city,  who  was  the  guest  of 
Squire  Davidson,  when  walking  with  him  about  the 
village. 

"  What  boys  and  girls  ?  "  inquired  the  squire,  looking 
about  in  search  of  them. 

"  Over  there  by  the  tavern,  a  little  this  side  ;  there  are 
thirty  or  forty  of  them,"  Mr.  Lovell  replied. 

"  0,  yes  ;  I  see  them  now,"  the  squire  remarked,  looking 
that  way.  "  Let  us  stop  a  while  and  see  what  they  are 
up  to." 

Soon  Mr.  Eldridge  was  seen  coming  from  the  post  office. 


100  A  VOICE   FROM  THE   PARSONAGE. 

As  he  advanced  towards  the  children  there  was  greut 
commotion  —  laughing,  shouting,  and  a  variety  of  move- 
ments which  denoted  that  great  pleasure  was  in  anticipa- 
tion or  in  enjoyment.  When  Mr.  Eldridge  had  approached 
very  near  where  they  were  the  children  opened  on  the 
right  and  left,  the  boys  with  their  hats  and  caps  off,  and 
the  girls  courtesying,  and  all  most  respectfully  greeting  the 
minister  they  loved.  Having  passed  through  the  line,  Mr. 
Eldridge  turned  round  and  stood  as  if  speaking  to  his 
young  friends.  Then  they  gathered  around  him,  and  he 
took  them  severally  by  the  hand,  exchanging  congratula- 
tions with  them.  The  squire  and  his  friend  were  the  while 
approaching  and  much  enjoying  the  scene. 

"The  little  folks  seem  highly  pleased  with  their  minis- 
ter," Mr.  Lovell  remarked,  addressing  Mr.  Eldridge. 

"  They  usually  anticipate  seeing  me  here  about  this 
time  of  the  day  as  I  go  to  the  post  office,"  Mr.  Eldridge 
replied.  "Their  school  has  just  closed,  and  they  want 
Borne  diversion." 

"They  do  not  appear  to  be  afraid  of  you,"  said  Mr. 
Lovell. 

"  I  hope  not,"  Mr.  Eldridge  replied.  "  I  should  regret 
very  much  to  have  any  boys  and  girls  in  the  parish  in  the 
slightest  fear  of  me.  I  ever  encourage  all  to  approach 
me  with  the  same  familiarity  that  they  do  their  parents." 

"  I  have  often  noticed,"  said  the  squire,  "  the  same  kind 
of  regard  for  you  before  ;  and  when  my  attention  was 
called  to  the  children  by  my  friend  as  we  were  walking 
by  the  graveyard,  I  stopped  to  allow  him  to  witness  their 
doings." 

"  It  is  a  very  pleasing  spectacle,  truly,"  said  Mr.  Lovell, 
"  and  auspicious  of  good,  when  children  manifest  such 
deep  interest  in  their  pastor  ;  for  children  are  a  mirror 
in  which  their  parents  can  be  seen." 

With  a  grateful  and  gracious  bow  Mr.  Eldridge  bade 


THE  PASTOE'S  CARE  OF  THE  YOUNG,  ETC.         101 

adieu  to  these  gentlemen,  being  desirous  of  speaking  with 
another  individual  who  was  passing  in  a  carriage.  Re- 
suming their  walk,  Mr.  Lovell  remarked,  — 

"  Mr.  Eldridge  must  have  a  very  strong  hold  of  the 
young  people  of  his  parish,  I  should  judge." 

"  He  has  an  uncommon  share  of  their  interest  and  affec- 
tion," the  squire  replied.  "I  do  not  remember  ever  to 
have  known  a  pastor  so  generally  beloved  by  the  younger 
portion  of  his  flock  as  is  the  case  here.  As  much  interest 
would  be  expressed  in  as  many  children  in  other  parts  of 
the  parish  as  was  manifested  here  just  now." 

"  It  is  a  fine  thing  that  it  is  so,"  Mr.  Lovell  remarked. 
"  If  the  children  have  affection  for  a  pastor  they  will  be 
pleased  in  hearing  him  preach,  and  will  be  inclined  to 
treasure  up  his  instructions  in  their  hearts." 

"  We  have  found  this  to  be  ca'se,"  the  squire  replied. 
"  We  often  hear  that  children  in  the  parish  consider  it  a 
very  heavy  trial  when  it  is  necessary  for  them  to  be  absent 
from  church  on  the  Sabbath.  They  are  so  much  interested 
in  Mr.  Eldridge  as  to  be  unwilling  to  be  deprived  of  the 
pleasure  of  hearing  him  preach  even  for  a  single  Sabbath. 
That  they  remember  what  he  preaches  we  know,  from  the 
fact  that  in  the  Sabbath  school  they  give  us  a  very  ac- 
curate account  of  the  sermon.  It  is  truly  astonishing  to 
hear  some  of  them  repeat  what  they  have  heard.  They 
will  give  the  text,  chapter  and  verse,  the  subject  and 
divisions,  of  the  discourse ;  and  frequently,  in  answer  to 
the  questions  of  the  teachers,  will  bring  out  quite  a  re- 
spectable portion  of  the  sermon.  I  often  think  that  I 
could  not  have  given  so  intelligent  an  account  of  the 
preaching  as  I  frequently  hear  from  some  of  the  children." 

"  They  are  not  excited  to  treasure  up  so  much  of  the  dis- 
course by  any  expectation  that  Mr.  Eldridge  will  know  of 
it,  are  they?"  Mr. Lovell  asked. 

"  1  presume  that  consideration  has  influence  upon  them," 
<J* 


102         A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

the  squire  replied;  "  for  it  is  often  that  the  pastor  visits 
the  school  and  is  present  when  the  children  are  giving 
their  account  of  his  discourse." 

"  It  must  be  a  great  source  of  pleasure  as  well  as  hope 
to  him  to  know  that  he  has  such  retentive  hearers  in  the 
younger  part  of  his  audience,"  said  Mr.  Lovell. 

"  Undoubtedly  it  is,"  said  the  squire,  "  and  very  grati- 
fying to  the  children  likewise  to  have  Mr.  Eldridge  aware 
how  well  they  remember  his  sermons.  I  have  often  heard 
that  some  of  the  children  have  been  much  pained  at  not 
giving  so  full  an  account  of  the  sermon  in  the  Sabbath 
school  as  they  had  previously  given  to  their  parents,  be- 
cause they  supposed  their  failure  was  noticed  by  the 
pastor." 

At  the  dinner  table,  around  which  the  squire  and  his 
friend  were  summoned,  as  they  entered  the  hous'e  on  the 
conclusion  of  their  walk,  Mr.  Lovell,  addressing  Mrs.  Da- 
vidson, remarked, — 

"I  have  been  highly  delighted  this  morning  with  the 
discovery  of  excessive  interest  on  the  part  of  your  young 
people  here  in  their  pastor." 

"  Indeed ! "  said  the  good  lady.    "  And  what  may  it  be  ?  " 

The  gentleman  then  proceeded  and  narrated  what  has 
just  now  been  under  the  eye  of  the  reader,  when  Mrs.  Da- 
vidson observed, — 

"  That  was  an  interesting  spectacle,  was  it  not,  Mr. 
Lovell?  It  is  always  pleasant  to  notice  in  children  re- 
spect and  affection  for  their  minister.  Mr.  Eldridge  has 
many  such  demonstrations  of  regard  by  his  little  parish- 
ioners." 

"  He  has  a  wonderful  faculty  of  interesting  the  young," 
Frances  remarked.  "  They  all  think  much  of  him.  In  a 
neighborhood  about  three  miles  from  here,  where  there 
are  quite  a  number  of  children,  last  spring  the  girls  were 
in  the  habit  of  meeting  every  Saturday  afternoon  in  the 


THE  PASTOR'S  CARE  OF  THE  YOUNG,  ETC.          103 

school  house  for  the  purpose  of  preparing  some  testimonial 
of  respect  for  the  pastor.  They  met  in  this  way  for  two 
months,  we  heard,  and  made,  a  large  and  splendid  bed- 
spread. When  it  was  ready  to  be  put  together  and  quilted 
their  mothers  and  older  sisters  were  invited  to  Mrs.  Kim- 
ball's,  where  they  had  a  fine  quilting  party.  An  invitation 
was  given  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eldridge  to  favor  a  few  of 
their  friends  with  their  company  in  the  evening.  The 
work  was  all  completed  before  dark  and  ready  for  a  for- 
mal presentation.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eldridge  in  the  evening 
joined  this  happy  company,  and  were  somewhat  surprised 
at  noticing  that  pretty  much  all  the  people  in  the  neigh- 
borhood were  present,  and  that,  instead  of  seeing  a  few, 
they  had  the  pleasure  of  welcoming  many  of  their  friends. 
They  had  not  been  at  Mr.  Kimball's  an  hour  before  it  be- 
came evident  to  them  that  some  other  reason  than  the 
enjoyment  of  a  mere  social  visit  had  gathered  their  friends 
together.  There  was  the  arranging  of  chairs  around  the 
room  in  a  peculiar  order,  and  the  company  taking  their 
seats  upon  them,  with  an  expression  of  countenance  every 
now  and  then  upon  some  of  them  that  unmistakably  told  . 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eldridge  there  was  a  secret  about  to  be 
revealed.  Then  a  large  table  was  rolled  into  the  centre 
of  the  room,  and  soon  two  young  ladies  entered,  bearing 
a  long  roll,  tastefully  folded  and  tied  with  ribbons.  Then 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eldridge  were  asked  to  occupy  two  chairs- 
near  this  table  and  roll ;  and  opposite  them  three  young 
girls  seated  themselves.  Whilst  all  this  was  going  on 
conversation  was  generally  suspended.  On  the  part  of 
the  pastor  and  his  wife  there  was  the  silence  of  suspense ; 
but  on  the  part  of  the  others  there  was  the  impatience  for 
the  crowning  scene  of  the  evening.  All  the  preliminaries 
being  arranged,  one  of  the  young  ladies,  who  sat  opposite 
the  pastor  and  his  wife,  arose,  and  in  a  neat  and  appropriate 
manner  made  known  the  real  cause  of  the  present  gathering. 


104  A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

In  doing  this  many  very  complimentary  things  were  said 
of  the  pastor  and  his  companion.  To  prove  that  the 
heart  was  in  these  expressions  of  respect  and  affection, 
and  not  the  tongue  only  concerned  in  them,  she  observed 
that  her  young  associates  and  friends  who  were  present 
had  for  weeks  been  engaged  in  fashioning  a  memorial  of 
their  feelings,  and  which  it  was  now  her  happy  fortune,  in 
their  name,  to  present  to  her  pastor  and  wife.  Instantly 
the  other  girls  by  the  side  of  the  speaker  unrolled  the 
fabric  that  had  lain  on  the  table,  and  it  appeared  most 
beautiful  indeed.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eldridge  were  taken  by 
surprise,  being  wholly  unaware  that  any  such  expression 
of  friendship  was  intended,  and  both  were  much  affected." 

"  That  must  have  been  a  most  interesting  occasion  to 
them,  I  confess,"  Mr.  Lovell  remarked.  "I  suppose  the 
article  presented  cost  the  young  ladies  much  labor  and 
anxiety." 

"  0,  yes,"  said  Frances, "  and  not  a  little  money  too.  It 
was  certainly  a  magnificent  piece  of  work  for  the  kind. 
It  was  composed  mostly  of  silk  and  satin,  and  very  richly 
embroidered.  It  was  thought  that  it  would  sell  readily 
at  auction  for  thirty  or  forty  dollars." 

"As  Frances  has  given  you  information  of  the  gener- 
osity of  the  girls,"  the  squire  observed,  "  I  will  tell  you 
what  the  boys  did  last  winter." 

"I  should  be  happy  to  hear,"  Mr.  Lovell  said. 

"  Last  winter,"  the  squire  continued,  "  we  had  a  large 
quantity  of  snow  in  this  region,  and  some  of  the  older 
boys  started  the  project  of  making  the  minister  a  present 
of  a  load  of  wood.  The  plan  was,  that  each  boy  should 
obtain  from  his  father  as  much  as  he  was  disposed  to  give 
and  deposit  the  same  on  a  piece  of  ground  near  the  school 
house.  When  all  had  made  their  contribution,  a  day  was 
fixed  upon  to  convey  the  wood  in  a  single  load  to  the 
parsonage.  Accordingly,  at  the  appointed  time,  the  boys 


THE  PASTOR'S  CARE  OP  THE  YOUNG£J  ETC.         105 

met  at  the  school  house  to  load  up.  They  first  loaded  one 
sled  and  drove  it  along  a  little  way.  Then  they  loaded 
another  and  drove  that  along  to  the  first  load,  and  at- 
tached it  firmly  to  the  same  by  chains.  In  this  way  they 
proceeded  till  the  whole  lot  of  wood  was  all  loaded  up. 
They  then  put  on  their  team,  which  consisted  of  seven 
yoke  of  oxen,  and  drove  down  to  the  minister's  in  high 
spirits.  This  team,  and  those  interested  in  its  manage- 
ment, attracted  great  attention  along  the  road  ;  and  when 
it  reached  its  destination  there  were  more  than  a  hundred 
men  and  boys  around,  who  had  fallen  in  along  the  route. 
Mr.  Eldridge,  hearing  quite  a  tumult  about  his  premises, 
was  somewhat  alarmed,  on  opening  the  door,  to  see  such 
a  collection  of  people.  Somehow  or  other  the  wood  es- 
caped his  notice  ;  and  he  was  not  aware  that  it  stood  by 
till  he  was  asked  by  a  little  fellow,  who,  for  his  brightness 
and  intelligence,  had  won  the  name  of  John  Quincy  Jldams, 
if  he  would  accept  of  a  small  load  of  wood." 

"  He  made  no  objections,  I  suppose,"  said  Mr.  Lovell. 

"  Of  course  not,"  the  squire  proceeded  ;  "  but  he  was  ex- 
ceedingly overcome,  I  assure  you.  In  common  with  others, 
as  the  load  passed  my  store,  I  followed  on.  After  the 
wood  was  unloaded,  little  John  Quincy  Adams,  in  behalf 
of  the  donors,  addressed  Mr.  Eldridge  in  a  short  speech, 
which  was  touching  in  the  extreme.  It  must  have  made 
Mr.  Eldridge  feel  that  he  was  beloved  by  all  the  young 
people  of  the  parish.  In  concluding  his  remarks,  John 
Quincy  said  that,  if  agreeable  to  Mr.  Eldridge,  the  boys 
would  meet  on  the^next  Saturday  and  saw,  split,  and  pile 
up  the  wood." 

"  That  was  a  very  handsome  thing,"  said  Mr.  Lovell. 
"  How  much  wood  did  the  load  contain  ?  " 

"  It  was  thought  there  were  over  eight  cords  of  it,"  thd 
squire  replied. 

"  That  was  a  most  valuable  present,  I  confess,"  said- 


106         A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

Mr.  Lovell.  "  They  met,  I  suppose,  and  sawed  and  piled 
the  wood  as  proposed  ?  " 

"  That  they  did,"  the  squire  replied  ;  "  and  there  was  a 
large  company  together  at  the  time.  The  news  had 
spread  ;  and  boys  far  and  near  were  there  with  saws  and 
axes,  which  were  used  most  industriously  till  the  whole 
work  was  done ;  and  the  whole  lot  of  wood  was  sawed, 
split,  and  packed  away  in  the  the  wood  house  before  one 
o'clock." 

"  The  minister  had  a  large  company  at  dinner  that  day, 
I  suppose,"  Mr.  Lovell  said. 

"  He  might  have  had,  had  not  his  intentions  been  frus- 
trated by  some  of  the  people  in  this  neighborhood,  who 
thought  they  would  like  a  share  in  the  doings  of  the  day. 
They  got  up  a  dinner  at  the  tavern  for  about  two  hundred 
persons  ;  and  all  who  were  at  Mr.  Eldriclge's,  whether  as 
workers  or  spectators,  were  invited  there  to  dinner." 

"  The  dinner  must  have  cost  a  large  sum,"  said  Mr. 
Lovell.  "Tavern  keepers  don't  work  for  nothing,  you 
know." 

"  It  must  have  cost  something,  of  course,"  said  the  squire  ; 
"  but  the  dinner  was  not  provided  by  the  landlord  of  the 
house.  The  families  in  the  village  here  furnished  the 
tables,  each  contributing  meats,  puddings,  pies,  &c.  The 
landlord,  being  a  generous  man  and  a  lover  of  good  times, 
offered  the  gratuitous  use  of  his  hall,  tables,  crockery,  &c." 

"All  this  is  worth  knowing,"  Mr.  Lovell  remarked. 
"  Was  an  account  of  the  affair  ever  published  ?  It  ought 
to  have  been." 

"Along  article  in  reference  to  it  was  written  by  one 
of  our  young  men,"  the  squire  replied,  "  and  would  have 
been  published  had  not  Mr.  Eldridge  interfered  to  pre- 
vent it.  He  said  he  did  not  like  to  have  a  great  noise 
made  about  himself  in  the  community.  He  acknowledged, 
however,  the  kindness  in  a  brief  card  in  the  papers,  but 


THE  PASTOR'S  CARE  OF  THE  YOUNG,  ETC.         107 

not  in  a  manner  to  bring  out  all  the  facts  as  I  have  now 
stated  them." 

"  I  should  think,"  said  Mr.  Lovell,  "  Mr.  Eldridge  must 
feel  that  he  has  one  of  the  very  best  of  parishes." 

"There  is  human  nature  here,  after  all,"  the  squire 
somewhat  dryly  replied.  "  "We  are  by  no  means  perfect." 

"  We  have  a  pastor,  Mr.  Lovell,  who  understands  very 
well  how  to  get  along  with  all  classes  of  his  parishioners," 
aunt  Sarah  said.  "  He  is  attentive  to  every  one,  and  all 
seem  to  think  he  is  their  peculiar  friend.  You  would  be 
much  interested  in  hearing  some  of  our  poor  people  speak 
of  him  and  to  know  of  many  expressions  of  their  attach- 
ment." 

"  That  is  another  star  in  your  pastor's  crown,  I  suppose," 
Mr.  Lovell  replied. 

"It  is  much  in  his  favor,"  aunt  Sarah  said.  "Some 
ministers  seern  to  think  it  is  not  of  much  consequence 
whether  they  pay  any  particular  attentions  to  the  poorer 
classes  or  not.  They  appear  to  feel  that,  if  they  can  keep 
on  the  right  side  of  the  more  influential  members  of  their 
paribh,  they  will  have  no  cause  for  trouble.  I  don't  know 
as  this  is  their  feeling,  but  it  looks  like  it." 

"0  sister,  you  must  not  judge  ministers  so  harshly," 
interposed  the  squire.  "  They  are  not  all  constituted 
alike,  you  know." 

"  Ah,  well,"  aunt  Sarah  continued,  "  I  think  a  minister 
ought  to  be  conversant  with  all  his  people ;  he  ought  to 
know  them  all,  and  especially  those  in  the  lower  walks  of 
life.  They  are  greatly  comforted  by  being  noticed  by  the 
minister,  and  greatly  benefited  likewise.  Only  think  how 
much  pleasure  widow  Tompkins  takes  in  telling  of  the 
attentions  she  receives  from  Mr.  Eldridge." 

"  This  is  all  true,"  said  the  squire.  "  I  acknowledge  it 
all.  It  is  very  important  that  a  minister  does  not  over- 
look  the  poor  and  the  -ignoble  ;  but  you  know  that  some 


108  A  VOICE  FKOM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

clergymen  are  of  such  a  temperament  as  leads  them  to 
neglect  particular  attentions  to  any.  Some  neglect  the 
rich  as  much  as  they  do  the  poor  ;  and  they  are  good  min- 
isters, too,  for  all  this." 

"  I  wish  all  who  neglect  the  poor  would  come  here  and 
take  lessons  of  our  minister,"  aunt  Sarah  rejoined.  "  Let 
them  go  with  him  to  Mrs.  Snowden's,  and  widow  Tomp- 
kins's,  and  some  others  whom  I  could  mention  ;  and,  if  I 
mistake  not,  they  would  be  induced  to  search  out  for  simi- 
lar persons  in  their  own  parishes,  and  be  comforted  and 
encouraged  in  their  labors  by  their  conversation  and  ex- 
perience." 

"  I  should  judge  from  this  remark,  Miss  Davidson,  that 
these  cases  to  which  you  allude  were  interesting  ones," 
Mr.  Lovell  observed.  "  Will  you  enlarge  a  little  ?  " 

"I  must  refer  you  to  Frances,"  aunt  Sarah  replied,  "as 
she  often  accompanies  Mr.  Eldridge  to  widow  Tompkins's 
and  some  other  individuals  like  her." 

"  As  Mr.  Eldridge  often  has  our  carriage,"  Frances  pro- 
ceeded, "  he  frequently  invites  me  to  ride  with  him  ;  and 
I  always  feel  it  a  privilege  to  accept  his  invitation.  I 
have  been  with  him  several  times  to  Mrs.  Tompkins's,  who 
resides  some  four  miles  from  here,  and  has  been  confined 
to  her  room  for  several  years  with  the  dropsy.  She  is  very 
poor,  and  has  but  one  child  at  home.  Last  week  I  was 
there  without  Mr.  Eldridge,  having  begged  the  privilege 
of  accompanying  father,  who  was  going  by  her  house,  that 
I  might  remain  with  her  till  his  return.  I  had  scarcely 
been  seated  before  she  expressed  her  great  regret  that  Mr. 
Eldridge  had  not  come  with  me.  '  You  don't  know  how 
much  I  enjoy  his  visits,'  she  said.  'His  conversation 
makes  me  think  of  his  great  Master,  who  sought  opportu- 
nities to  do  good  to  the  poor,  the  sick,  and  the  afflicted. 
He  seems' to  be  very  different  from  other  ministers  I  have 
known  ;  he  cares  for  all,  whether  rich  or  poor,  high  or 


THE  PASTOR'S  CARE  OF  THE  YOUNG,  ETC.         109 

low.  Sometimes  when  he  has  been  here  I  have  thought 
he  cared  for  the  poor  more  than  he  did  for  the  rich,  and  I 
have  heard  a  number  of  poor  people  say  it  seemed  just  so 
to  them.  He  comes  to  see  me  about  once  a  month,  and  I 
have  a  feast  when  he  is  here  that  lasts  me  a  great  while. 
He  makes  me  forget  my  pains  and  trials,  and  carries  me 
away  to  heaven,  so  that  I  long  to  be  there.  You  can't 
think,'  she  said,  '  how  different  he  is  from  our  former  pas- 
tor. He  used  to  come  once*  or  twice  a  year,  but  did  not 
seem  to  enter  into  my  case.  I  did  not  get  much  sympathy 
or  much  good  either  from  him.  He  always  seemed  to 
come  because  he  thought  he  must,  and  not  because  he  wanted 
to.  Now,  Mr.  Eldridge  appears  to  have  pleasure  in  calling, 
because  he  feels  that  he  is  doing  good.  0,'  she  continued, 
*  I  am  under  the  greatest  obligations  to  him,  blessed  man ! 
He  has  taught  me  a  great  deal  about  Christ  and  heaven.' 
She  went  on  in  this  way  for  some  time,  giving  expression 
to  her  exceeding  interest  in  our  pastor.  I  could  not  help 
thinking  whilst  she  was  speaking  that  all  she  said  was 
true  ;  for  certainly  when  I  have  been  with  Mr.  Eldridge 
he  appeared  just  as  she  described." 

"  How  long  has  she  been  sick  ?  "  Mr.  Lovell  inquired. 

"About  twenty  years,"  Mrs.  Davidson  replied. 

"She  ought  to  have  sympathy  from  some  quarter,  I 
think,"  Mr.  Lovell  said. 

"  She  certainly  ought,"  said  Mrs.  Davidson  ;  "  but,  poor 
woman !  she  does  not  receive  much.  She  lives  on  a  road 
that  is  not  much  travelled,  and  there  are  not  many  who 
are  sufficiently  interested  in  the  poor  to  go  and  see  her. 
]  am  highly  gratified  with  Mr.  Eldridge's  attentions  to 
her." 

"  Mr.  Eldridge  treats  all  the   poor  and  afflicted  just 

after  this  manner,"  aunt  Sarah  remarked.     "  There  is  Mrs. 

Snowden,  a  pious  woman  I  believe,  but  who,  for  some 

reason  or  other,  lias  not  been  much  cared  for,  who  thinks 

10 


110  A  VOICE  FROM  TUB  PARSONAGE. 

a  great  deal  of  Mr.  Eldridge.  She  has  a  very  bad  cancer 
in  her  face,  and  looks  so  disagreeable  that  people  don't 
like  to  go  there.  She  is  very  poor,  and  cannot  for  this 
reason  do  as  she  would  —  keep  herself  and  room  looking 
neat.  Mr.  Eldridge  goes  there  once  a  week,  I  believe ; 
and  people  tell  me  that  she  is  very  much  comforted  by  his 
visits.  Brother  says,  when  he  calls  there  to  make  her  a 
present  of  things  she  needs  for  her  comfort  that  she  is 
almost  all  the  time  talking  about  our  good  minister. 
'He  can't  think  himself  a  bit  better  than  I  am,'  she  often 
says." 

"  Mr.  Eldridge  must  be  a  most  excellent  man,"  said  Mr. 
Lovell.  "  I  always  like  to  hear  that  a  minister  is  praised 
by  the  poor  and  those  in  the  humbler  walk  of  life." 

"  This  class  here  all  speak  well  of  Mr.  Eldridge,"  Fran- 
ces remarked.  "  I  never  heard  a  word  of  complaint  from 
any  of  them  that  he  was  proud  or  indifferent  to  them." 


CHAPTER   IX. 

THE  PASTOR  A  REVIVAL    PREACHER. 

ON  a  pleasant  day  in  February,  as  Squire  Davidson  was 
standing  at  the  window  after  dinner,  he  noticed  a  sleigh 
approaching  the  house  from  the  road  below,  and  ex- 
claimed, — 

"  I  wonder  who  is  coming  here  ?  0,  I  see  now  ;  it  is 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jaquith,  from  Linebrook  parish." 

"  Are  they  here,  husband  ?  "  said  his  wife.  "  I  am  very 
glad  of  it.  They  have  come  over,  I  dare  say,  to  attend 
some  of  our  meetings." 

Soon  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jaquith  were  seated  around  the 
cheerful  fire,  apparently  much  pleased  that  they  were 
again  with  those  from  whose  society  they  had  derived  so 
much  happiness  on  repeated  occasions  heretofore. 

"  We  hear  you  are  having  precious  times  over  here," 
said  Mrs.  Jaquith  ;  "  and  I  have  been  telling  husband  for 
a  week  or  two  past  that  we  must  ride  over  and  attend 
some  of  your  meetings.  I  hope  you  are  to  have  a  meeting 
this  evening." 

"  We  are,"  Mrs.  Davidson  replied  ;  "and  this  afternoon 
likewise." 

"  It  seems  you  have  heard  of  our  revival,"  the  squire  ob- 
served. 

"  We  have  Jieard  very  much  about  it,"  Mrs.  Jaquith  re- 
plied. "  Mr.  Mandel,  you  know,  is  over  here  from  our 

(ill) 


112  A  VOICE  FKOM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

place  two  or  three  times  a  week  ;  and  if  any  individual 
would  be  likely  to  know  of  a  revival,  he  is  the  one.  He 
is  very  much  interested  in  calling  upon  us  from  time  to 
time  to  give  us  particulars  of  the  work.  He  says  he 
must  always  call  when  he  is  passing  and  tell  us  the  glori- 
ous news." 

"  It  is  a  glorious  season,  I  assure  you,  that  we  are  now 
enjoying,"  Mrs.  Davidson  remarked.  "I  never  before 
knew  such  a  revival  as  this." 

"  You  are  highly  favored  here,  I  think,"  Mrs.  Jaquith 
said,  "  in  having  such  frequent  revivals.  This  is  the  fourth, 
I  believe,  since  Mr.  Eldridge  was  settled." 

"  I  believe  we  have  had  three  seasons  of  interest  before 
the  present,"  Mrs.  Davidson  said  ;  "but  neither  of  the  oth- 
ers approached  this  in  power  and  extent." 

"  It  is  a  great  blessing  to  be  favored  with  such  a  revival 
preacher  as  Mr.  Eldridge,"  Mrs.  Jaquith  observed.  "  I 
often  tell  our  people  that  if  we  had  such  a  preacher  we 
should  have  revivals." 

"  Is  not  your  minister,  Mrs.  Jaquith,  a  good  preacher  ?  " 
the  squire  asked,  in  an  earnest,  if  not  in  a  reproving,  manner. 
"We  call  Mr.  Sibley  a  most  excellent  man,  and  preacher 
too,  over  here." 

"  Certainly,"  Mrs.  Jaquith  replied  ;  "  Mr.  Sibley  is  a 
good  preacher,  and  a  very  consistent  and  conscientious 
man  ;  but  then  he  is  no  revival  preacher." 

"  My  husband,"  Mrs.  Davidson  interposed,  "  is  not  par- 
tial to  comparisons  of  ministers,  being  a  great  friend  to 
them  all.  You  will  therefore,  Mrs.  Jaquith,  excuse  his 
earnestness,  and  place  it  to  the  account  of  his  long  ac- 
quaintance with  you.  We  think  as  you  do,  that  our  minis- 
ter is  a  revival  preacher." 

"  I  would  not  have  you  think,  squire,  that  I  undervalue 
Mr.  Sibley,"  Mrs.  Jaquith  observed,  with  a  good-natured 
smile.  "  Perhaps  I  did  not  express  myself  with  as  much 
propriety  as  I  might  have  done." 


THE   PASTOR  A  REVIVAL    PREACHES.  113 

"Such  modes  of  speaking  are  very  common,  madam, 
and  indicate  a  feeling  with  which  I  confess  I  have  not 
much  sympathy,"  the  squire  replied.  "  I  have  long  been 
of  the  opinion  that  both  ministers  and  churches  were  much 
injured  by  such  comparisons  as  you  have  just  made  between 
your  minister  and  Mr.  Eldridge.  Churches  are  injured 
because  they  serve  as  a  palliation  for  their  neglect  of  duty, 
and  ministers  are  often  injured  by  these  comparisons  be- 
cause their  tendency  is  to  prejudice  minds  against  the  one 
who  appears  to  the  least  advantage  in  the  comparison. 
If  a  stranger  to  both  ministers  were  here,  he  would  un- 
doubtedly have  had  an  unfavorable  opinion  of  Mr.  Sibley 
from  your  remark.  All  ministers  are  not  alike,  and  it  is 
for  important  purposes  that  there  is  a  diversity  of  gifts. 
I  think  there  may  be  as  fair  a  prospect  of  a  revival  under 
the  preaching  of  Mr.  Sibley  as  under  that  of  Mr.  Eldridge, 
if  the  people  do  their  duty  faithfully  " 

"  0,  then,  you  think  the  people  in  Linebrook  are  not  as 
good  and  faithful  Christians  as  your  own  people?"  Mrs. 
Jaquith  said,  with  a  little  excitement. 

"  Not  exactly  that,  my  good  friend,"  the  squire  replied. 
"  I  have  had  the  impression  that  your  people  attached  a 
greater  load  to  their  minister  than  he  could  carry  —  that 
they  expected  more  of  him  than  is.  reasonable.  It  will 
not  answer  for  the  members  of  a  church  to  feel  that  they 
have  no  responsibility  in  relation  to  the  progress  of  reli-. 
gion  —  that  they  may  attend  to  their  own  concerns  and 
yet  the  work  of  the  Lord  be  carried  prosperously  along 
by  the  minister.  I  have  thought  that  your  church  had  the 
feeling  that  it  all  depended  on  Mr.  Sibley  whether  reli- 
gion prospered  among  you,  and  that  his  success  was  in  no 
way  connected  with  their  prayers,  sympathy,  and  general 
cooperation.  I  may  be  deceived,  however  ;  I  hope  that  I 
am.  Now,  with  us,  we  think  Mr.  Eldridge  is  a  man  ia 
need  of  kelp,  encouragement,  and  of  our  persevering  prayers  ; 
10* 


114  A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

and  that  he  will  be  prospered  or  hindered  in  his  work  in  pro- 
portion to  our  own  fidelity  in  these  several  respects.  Now,  I 
think,  if  your  people  would  rally  around  their  minister, 
and  manifest  an  interest  in  him  and  in  his  labors,  and 
would  pray  much  for  him  and  his  success,  you  might  have 
revivals  as  frequently  as  we  do  here." 

"  There  is  some  truth  in  your  remarks,  I  confess,"  Mrs. 
Jaquith  said.  "We  are  in  the  habit  of  thinking  that  it 
depends  upon  the  minister ;  and,  in  helping  or  encour- 
aging him  much,  I  think  we  are  very  deficient.  You 
know  our  people  are  very  industrious  and  think  they  have 
no  time  for  other  matters  but  those  which  relate  immedi- 
ately to  their  own  business." 

"  There,  that  is  it,"  the  squire  said  ;  "  but  your  people 
wish  to  be  like  other  people  ;  they  want  as  successful  a 
minister  as  any  parish  enjoys,  and  yet  are  indisposed  to 
make  the  necessary  sacrifices.  Now,  they  must  alter  radi- 
cally, or  no  minister  will  be  successful  among  them." 

"  Well,  squire,  I  wish  you  would  go  over  there  and  tell 
us  our  duty  and  endeavor  to  infuse  into  our  people  the 
right  spirit.  They  think  much  of  you  ;  and  I  do  not  know 
of  an  individual  who  would  have  more  influence  over 
them." 

"  I  am  obliged  to  .  you  for  the  compliment,"  the  squire 
replied.  "  If  I  could  be  of  any  benefit  to  your  people,  it 
.would  give  me  much  pleasure  to  be  with  you  at  some  of 
your  meetings." 

"  0,  you  could  be  of  great  benefit,  I  have  no  doubt," 
Mrs.  Jaquith  remarked.  ' 

"  What  evening  do  you  have  a  prayer  meeting  ?  "  the 
squire  asked. 

"  We  have  no  particular  evening,"  Mrs.  Jaquith  replied. 
"  Formerly  it  was  Wednesday  evening  ;  but  of  late  we 
have  not  had  prayer  meetings  often.  Mr.  Siblcy  became 
discouraged.  The  members  of  the  church  did  not  have 


THE  PASTOR  A   REVIVAL'  PREACHER.  115 

any  interest  in  them.  Sometimes  there  would  be  a  deacon 
there,  but  not  very  often  ;  and  at  last  it  was  very  com- 
mon for  no  other  male  member  of  the  church  to  be  present 
but  the  one  at  whose  house  the  meeting  was  appointed. 
However,  if  you  will  go  over,  we  could  have  a  prayer 
meeting  appointed  almost  any  evening." 

"  I  am  really  afraid  it  would  not  amount  to  much  should 
there  be  a  meeting  called  merely  to  hear  me  talk  a  little 
while,"  the  squire  said.  "  I  do  not  see  what  ground  there 
is  for  expecting  success  to  any  religious  efforts  whilst  the 
people  are  so  spiritually  dead  as  their  indifference  to  a 
prayer  meeting  fully  demonstrates." 

At  the  appointed  hour  the  squire  and  wife,  with  their 
friends,  repaired  to  the  vestry  to  attend  a  meeting  for 
conference  and  prayer.  The  spacious  room  was  crowded, 
and  the  adjoining  rooms  could  hardly  seat  all  who  were 
present.  The  deepest  solemnity  sat  on  every  countenance, 
and  strong  anxiety  was  on  many  an  awakened  sinner. 

"  What  a  meeting  we  have  had  !  "  said  Mrs.  Jaquith,  as 
she  was  seated  in  the  parlor  of  the  squire.  "  How  very 
solemn  and  interesting !  How  animated  and  eloquent  Mr. 
Eldridge  was !  0, 1  should  think  people  would  feel  where 
he  is  1  He  certainly  understands  how  to  get  to  the 
heart." 

"  He  does,"  Mrs.  Davidson  replied  ;  "  there  can  be  no 
mistake  about  that.  I  do  not  know  what  he  might  do  in 
a  place  where  the  people  were  all  spiritually  dead  ;  but  he 
has  certainly  been  instrumental  of  great  good  since  he 
has  been  here." 

"  Hon't  you  think  he  would  wake  up  a  dull  and  worldly 
church  if  he  should  be  settled  over  such  ?  "  Mrs.  Jaquith 
inquired. 

"  I  cannot  tell,"  Mrs.  Davidson  replied.  "  There  is 
a  kind  that  goeth  not  out  only  by  prayer  and  fasting. 
Paul  may  plant,  Apollos  water  ;  but  God  must  give  the 


116  A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

increase.  If  there  were  not  a  praying  church  there  could 
not  be  much  ground  for  hope.  I  think  Mr.  Eldridge 
would  not  remain  long  with  a  people  who  were  indifferent 
to  spiritual  progress  and  neglectful  of  the  means  for  ef- 
fecting it." 

"I  cannot  but  think,"  Mrs.  Jaquith  said,  "that  your 
pastor  would  rouse  up  careless  professors  ;  his  appeals 
could  not  fail  to  do  this.  They  would  have  to  feel,  act, 
and  pray,  I  am  sure.  Don't  you  think  some  ministers  can 
do  this  work  with  more  success  than  others  ?  " 

"  Certainly,"  was  the  reply. 

"  Well,  that  is  what  I  think,"  said  Mrs.  Jaquith  ;  "  and 
I  meant  only  that  this  morning  in  the  remark  that  excited 
your  husband  a  little,  you  remember." 

"  I  rather  think,"  said  Mrs.  Davidson,  "  that  our  minis- 
ter would  not  have  much  success  among  your  people  unless 
the  Holy  Spirit  was  with  him." 

"  No,  certainly  not,"  Mrs.  Jaquith  replied  ;  "  but  would 
he  not  be  instrumental  in  stirring  up  the  church  so  that 
they  would  pray  for  the  Holy  Ghost  ?  " 

"  0, 1  do  not  know  how  that  would  be,"  Mrs.  Davidson 
replied.  "You  know  it  is  hard  for  the  Ethiopian  to 
change  his  skin  or  the  leopard  his  spots.  From  what  I 
have  heard,  your  deacons  and  leading  men  in  the  church 
are  excessively  worldly.  They  much  prefer  being  where 
they  can  advance  their  temporal  interest  than  at  a  prayer 
meeting.  Unless  they  felt  differently  from  what  they  now 
do,  I  do  not  believe  Mr.  Eldridge  or  any  other  minister 
would  do  much  good  there." 

"  It  is  very  trying,  I  confess,"  Mrs.  Jaquith  said,  "  to  see 
such  individuals  as  you  mention  so  bound  up  in  this  world. 
I  know  our  people  look  up  to  them,  and  they  are  much 
censured  for  their  worldliness ;  but  could  not  a  minister 
rouse  them  —  such  a  minister  as  Mr.  Eldridge  ?  " 

"  Perhaps  for  a  little  time  they  might  be  more  engaged 


THE   PASTOR  A  REVIVAL    PREACHER.  117 

outwardly  if  they  had  a  new  minister  ;  but  it  would  not 
last  long,  I  think,"  said  Mrs.  Davidson.  "  You  know  how 
greatly  Mr.  Richardson,  your  former  pastor,  was  tried  by 
the  worldliness  of  your  church.  He  was  a  rousing  preacher, 
I  am  sure.  He  used  to  tell  us  he  was  discouraged  because 
the  deacons  and  other  men  of  influence  would  not  work 
with  him,  being  so  much  engrossed  with  their  plans  for 
making  money.  He  mentioned  that  he  had  labored  hard 
with  them  to  persuade  to  a  different  course,  but  that  all 
his  labor  was  lost.  There  is  your  Deacon  Merill :  Mr. 
Richardson  used  to  say  of  him  that  he  appeared  much 
more  interested  in  his  own  business  than  in  the  conversion 
of  sinners  or  the  prosperity  of  the  church." 

"  The  deacon  formerly  felt  very  different  from  this.  He 
was  once  a  very  engaged  Christian." 

"  Yes,  I  have  heard  that  he  was,"  Mrs.  Davidson  said. 
"  Mr.  Colton,  who  preached  for  you  considerably  in  a  revi- 
val you  had  fifteen  or  twenty  years  ago,  told  us  ^that  the 
deacon  was  then  very  much  engaged  and  very  active.  But 
he  has  changed  his  opinion  of  late.  He  was  here  lately, 
and,  in  speaking  of  your  parish  and  of  Deacon  Merill, 
remarked  that  he  was  astonished  to  notice  his  very  great 
decline  in  piety." 

41  He  made  the  same  remark  at  our  house,"  Mrs.  Jaquith 
said,  "  when  he  called  there  as  he  was  on  his  way  to  visit 
you.  He  said  that  until  Deacon  Merill  was  a  changed 
man,  as  he  had  such  influence,  it  would  be  impossible  for 
Mr.  Sibley  or  any  other  minister  to  do  much  good  there. 
I  thought  he  was  rather  severe  on  the  deacon  at  the  time  ; 
but  I  have  since  altered  my  mind." 

"  Well,  Mrs.  Jaquith,"  said  the  squire,  who  had  just 
come  in  with  her  husband,  "  how  were  you  pleased  with 
our  meeting  this  afternoon  ?  " 

"  Very  much  pleased  indeed,"  Mrs.  Jaquith  replied. 
"  I  do  not  remember  that  I  ever  was  at  a  meeting  which  I 


118         A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

enjoyed  more.  I  thought  all  were  very  much  engaged,  and 
that  your  minister  was  particularly  so.  I  should  think 
there  was  great  depth  to  the  religious  feeling  here." 

"  Yes,  I  think  there  is,"  the  squire  remarked,  "  and  that 
the  interest  is  daily  becoming  greater.  I  have  just  been 
conversing  with  Mr.  Eldridge,  who  gives  a  very  favorable 
account  of  the  work." 

"  I  hope  that  I  shall  derive  much  benefit  myself  from 
being  with  you,"  Mrs.  Jaquith  said.  "  I  already  see  things 
in  a  new  light,  both  as  respects  myself  and  our  people." 

"  That  is  encouraging,"  said  the  squire.  "  I  trust  we 
shall  all  be  profited  by  the  interesting  occasion  we  have 
enjoyed." 

"  Mr.  Eldridge  is  very  well  fitted  to  promote  religious 
feeling,  I  think,"  said  Mrs.  Jaquith. 

"  He  is,"  said  the  squire.  "  He  is  a  very  good  man,  and 
rejoices  in  seeing  the  work  of  the  Lord  prospered.  We 
have  every  reason  to  be  satisfied  with  him.  He  does  all 
that  a  man  can  do." 

"  0,  yes,"  said  Mrs.  Jaquith.  "  He  looks  very  much  ex- 
hausted. His  labors  must  have  been  very  great." 

"They  have  been  excessively  arduous,"  Mrs.  Davidson 
replied.  "  He  is  at  work  all  the  time,  and  we  are  fearful 
that  he  will  overdo  and  be  under  the  necessity  of  suspend- 
ing all  effort." 

"  That  would  be  a  great  trial  to  you  all  as  well  as  a 
hinderance  to  the  revival,  would  it  not?"  Mrs.  Jaquith 
inquired. 

"  We  should  all  very  much  feel  the  trial  if  Mr.  Eld- 
ridge's  health  should  fail  and  he  be  unable  to  continue  his 
labors.  The  interest  here  might  be  checked,  I  think,  by 
such  an  event." 

"How  many  conversions  have  there  been  among  you 
since  the  commencement  of  the  present  revival  ?  "  Mrs. 
Jaquith  inquired. 


THE    PASTOR  A    REVIVAL   PREACHER.  119 

"We  do  not  know  exactly,"  Mrs.  Davidson  replied. 
"  We  have  heard  that  between  sixty  and  seventy  are  indul- 
ging hope." 

"  That  is  a  large  number,"  Mrs.  Jaquith  said.  "  Should 
there  be  no  others,  the  accession  of  these  to  your  church 
would  very  much  increase  its  strength.  Your  church  now, 
I  believe,  is  very  large." 

"  It  is  one  of  the  largest  in  the  region,"  Mrs.  Davidson 
said.  "  It  has  increased  very  much  since  Mr.  Eldridge  has 
been  with  us.  Forty-seven  a  year  is  the  average  number 
which  has  been  received  by  our  present  pastor." 

"  That  is  a  large  number,"  Mrs.  Jaquith  observed.  "  I 
cannot  avoid  feeling  that  your  great  prosperity  is  in  a 
great  measure  to  be  ascribed  to  the  engagedness  of  your 
pastor.  He  must  be  a  revival  preacher,  or  you  could  not 
have  had  such  constant  additions  to  your  church." 

"  We  know  that  Mr.  Eldridge  is  a  revival  preacher," 
the  squire  replied.  "He  is  called  such  all  over  the  parish, 
and  has  had  this  character  for  years." 

"  I  inferred  from  what  you  said  in  the  morning,  squire," 
Mrs.  Jaquith  observed,  "  that  you  did  not  allow  that  he 
was  more  of  such  a  preacher  than  other  ministers.  I 
thought  it  was  your  opinion  that  he  was  mainly  indebted 
to  his  church,  under  God,  for  his  usefulness," 

"  I  do  think  so,"  the  squire  replied  ;  "  that  is,  I  think,  if 
our  church  did  not  sympathize  with  Mr.  Eldridge  and  co- 
operate with  him,  that  he  would  not  be  as  useful  as  he  now 
is  and  as  he  has  been." 

"  Supposing  any  other  minister  to  be  your  pastor,  would 
his  usefulness  be  as  great  as  that  of  Mr.  Eldridge,  pro- 
vided your  church  were  faithful  in  the  discharge  of  duty  ?  " 

"  Some  other  minister  might  have  equal  success,"  the 
squire  replied  ;  "  but  not  every  minister  would.  I  would 
not  be  understood  as  saying  that  it  all  depends  upon  the 
church  whether  a  minister  is  or  is  not  successful.  I 


120  A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

acknowledge  that  much  is  depending  upon  the  talents  and 
devotedness  of  the  minister.  Some  ministers  would  do 
well  here  who  might  not  be  equally  successful  elsewhere  ; 
and  so  some  ministers  might  be  instrumental  of  accom- 
plishing great  good  elsewhere  who  would  fail  here 
altogether." 

"  Now,  squire,"  Mrs.  Jaquith  asked,  "  do  you  not  think 
that  some  ministers  are  more  revival  preachers  than 
others  ?  " 

"  I  suppose  I  must  say  that  I  do,"  was  the  reply." 

"  Mr.  Eldridge  is  one  of  those  preachers,  you  have  said. 
You  and  I  agree  much  better  now  than  in  the  morning, 
I  think,"  Mr.  Jaquith  said.  "You  have  said  that  it  is 
difficult  for  one  to  avoid  feeling  under  Mr.  Eldridge's 
preaching ;  and  I  said  in  the  morning,  that,  if  we  had  such 
a  preacher  as  Mr.  Eldridge,  I  thought  he  would  make  our 
church  feel  and  do  their  duty." 

"  He  might  make  them  feel,  I  acknowledge,"  the  squire 
replied  ;  "  and  yet,  when  they  went  out  from  his  presence 
and  mingled  in  the  world,  their  own  business  would  make 
them  feel  more.  I  do  not  doubt  that  Deacon  Merill  and 
others  in  your  church  often  feel  under  Mr.  Sibley's  preach- 
ing." 

"  0, 1  know  they  do,"  Mrs.  Jaquith  said. 

"  Why,  then,  do  you  not  have  revivals  ?  "  the  squire 
asked. 

"I  do  not  know,"  was  the  reply  ;  "but,  then,  I  think  we 
should  if  Mr.  Eldridge  was  our  minister ;  he  is  different 
from  Mr.  Sibley." 

"  It  might  be,"  the  squire  said,  "  that  Mr.  Eldridge  would 
be  successful,  with  the  blessing  of  God,  in  rousing  your 
church,  and  thereby  inducing  them  to  be  more  consistent 
and  active  ;  but  he  would  have  a  hard  matter  of  it,  I  ap- 
prehend. Should  he  do  this,  you  might  have  revivals. 
Until  Christians  do  their  duty,  the  ministry  will  not  be 


THE    PASTOR  A   REVIVAL    PREACHER.  121 

successful ;  the  word  preached  will  be  powerless.  I  wish 
your  church  and  every  church  felt  this,  and  then  I  think 
we  should  hear  less  fault  found  with  ministers  because 
they  were  unsuccessful,  and  more  said  in  their  praise  be- 
cause of  their  instrumentality  in  leading  many  souls  in  the 
path  to  heaven." 

11 


CHAPTER    X. 

VISIT  OF  A  CONNECTICUT  PASTOR. 

SQUIKE  DAVIDSON  being  a  native  of  Connecticut,  as  has 
already  been  stated,  cherished  that  particular  interest  in 
the  noble  state  which  her  character  for  all  that  is  good 
ought  ever  to  inspire  in  her  children.  After  his  removal 
from  her  territory  he  continued  to  cultivate  that  intimate 
acquaintance  with  whatever  affected  her  prosperity  which 
could  be  done  by  frequent  visits  and  correspondence.  By 
a  large  circle  of  warm  friends  there  as  well  as  in  the  state 
of  his  adoption  he  was  regarded  with  the  highest  respect 
for  the  uniform  consistency  of  his  piety,  and  for  his  straight- 
forward, decided  course  in  relation  to  every  project  which 
had  for  its  end  the  good  of  his  species  and  the  glory  of 
his  Creator.  Often  has  his  house  enclosed  a  happy  com- 
pany who  had  journeyed  thither  from  the  vicinage  of  his 
native  home  to  strengthen  or  renew  the  acquaintance 
that  began  in  youth.  Often,  too,  have  many  who  never 
knew  him  but  by  report  been  incited  by  the  fulness,  of  this 
report  of  his  worth  to  attest  the  truth  of  what  they  had 
heard  by  a  visit  to  his  hospitable  abode. 

Many  a  clergyman  from  Connecticut  and  other  parts 
had  been  directed,  for  miles  around  his  house,  as  they  asked 
the  way  to  Squire  Davidson's  ;  and  all  these  worthy  men 
ever  found  themselves  the  welcome  guests  of  a  man  whom 
they  confided  in  as  one  of  the  strong  pillars  of  the  church. 

(122) 


VISIT  OP  A   CONNECTICUT  PASTOR.  123 

The  good  minister  of  his  native  town,  who  was  often 
among  the  crowd  during  election  or  anniversary  week  in 
Boston,  was  frequently  heard  by  his  wife  to  declare  that 
he  hardly  knew  which  motive  had  the  strongest  power  to 
urge  him  on  to  Boston  in  the  month  of  May  —  either  that  in 
the  opportunity  for  seeing  and  hearing  the  great  and  the 
good  in  the  various  convocations  of  the  church,  or  that 
of  a  visit  to  the  minister's  firmest  friend,  in  the  person  of 
Squire  Davidson,  near  whose  house  his  route  lay  to  Boston. 
Probably,  when  meditating  on  the  journey  at  the  period 
now  to  be  described,  the  good  man  was  at  no  loss  to  de- 
termine the  strongest  incentive  to  his  course.  The  desire 
to  enjoy  the  wise  counsels  and  warm  sympathy  of  the 
squire  was  predominant ;  for  he  did  not  allow  himself  but 
one  day  in  Boston,  preferring  to  pass  between  three  and 
four  with  the  squire. 

Rev.  Mr.  Edmands,  the  clergyman  above  alluded  to,  had 
been  settled  in  the  native  town  of  Squire  Davidson  eleven 
years.  Though  not  the  greatest  theologian  of  the  times 
nor  the  most  eloquent  preacher,  yet  his  talents  were  very 
respectable,  his  acquirements  equal  to  the  average  class 
of  ministers,  and  his  piety  and  devotedness  to  his  Master's 
service  were  far  beyond  those  of  many  of  his  brethren  in 
the  region.  In  the  years  of  his  pastorate  he  had  been 
singularly  successful  among  a  people  who  had  been  riven 
by  previous  strife  ;  and  he  had  won  over,  by  his  humble, 
wise,  and  consistent  course,  many  an  individual  who  had 
avowed  erroneous  doctrines,  and  who  had  gone  down  to 
practices*  at  a  great  remove  from  the  way  to  heaven.  The 
great  truths  of  revelation  which  had  been  the  subjects  of 
ridicule  ceased  almost  entirely  to  yield  mirth  ;  and  tho 
obloquy  which  had,  in  no  contracted  measure,  been  poured 
out  on  those  who  were  attached  to  the  visible  kingdom  of 
Christ,  was  so  far  wiped  away  as  to  allow  the  common 
remark,  that  there  was  something  in  religion  of  advantage 


124  A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

to  man  in  the  present  life,  and  of  indispensable  moment 
to  him  in  the  life  which  follows.  The  church  under  his 
ministry  had  repaired  its  foundations,  which  former  conten- 
tions and  inconsistencies  in  its  members  had  greatly  shaken 
and  enervated.  It  had  been  greatly  strengthened,  too,  by 
additions  of  those  who  had  formerly  been  the  opposers  of 
its  doctrines  and  the  scoffers  in  the  community.  The 
Sabbath  congregation,  instead  of  the  meagre  assembly 
within  the  house  of  God  when  Mr.  Edmands  began  his 
ministry,  had  waxed  so  great  as  to  make  it  necessary  to 
enlarge  the  sanctuary  to  give  the  worshippers  room. 
Business  had  greatly  prospered,  and  the  general  aspects 
of  the  place  had  undergone  a  most  pleasing  revolution. 
Common  acclamation  ascribed  all  these  important  events, 
in  a  great  measure,  to  the  prudence  and  devotedness  of 
the  pastor.  So  many  expressions  had  Mr.  Edmarids  of 
the  confidence  and  affection  of  his  people  as  to  induce 
within  his  breast  the  feeling  that  no  other  parish  would 
ever  be  sought  by  him.  The  remark  in  neighboring  towns 
was  frequent  among  the  people  there  residing,  and  who 
often  interchanged  feeling  with  Mr.  Edmands's  parish- 
ioners, that  he  was  just  the  man  for  them,  and  that  they 
were  wonderfully  attached  to  him.  No  intimation  of  dis- 
satisfaction reached  his  ears  from  year  to  year  ;  and  every 
thing  favored  the  conclusion,  till  a  few  months  before  his 
present  visit  to  the  squire,  that  Mr.  Edmands's  parish 
would  never  think  of  another  pastor  till  his  grave  had 
been  made  in  their  own  cemetery. 

In  the  annual  visits  of  Squire  Davidson  to  the  home  of 
his  childhood  and  youth  he  had  taken  great  pleasure  in 
hearing  from  the  people  of  their  growing  attachment  to 
their  pastor  and  of  witnessing  the  beneficial  results  of  Ids 
ministry.  He,  too,  thought  that  it  would  never  again  be  his 
grief  to  know  of  another  change  in  the  pastoral  office 
there,  unless  it  was  effected  by  the  death  of  the  present 


VISIT  OF   A   CONNECTICUT  PASTOR.  125 

pastor.  It  was,  therefore,  no  pleasing  object  to  him  that 
Mr.  Edmands  disclosed  as  the  reason  of  his  present  visit 
that  of  seeking  counsel  in  relation  to  the  difficulties  which 
had  suddenly  overtaken  him.  The  squire,  however,  was 
not  wholly  taken  by  surprise  ;  for  a  letter  from  his  sister 
living  in  her  native  place,  which  he  received  a  few  weeks 
before,  had  apprised  him  that  clouds  now  darkened  her 
pastor's  sky.  As  his  friend  broke  to  him  the  unpleasant 
intelligence  he  betrayed  no  previous  knowledge  of  the 
case,  being  desirous  to  have  Mr.  Edmands  unembarrassed 
in  his  statements  of  the  causes  and  kinds  of  troubls 
which  threatened  the  rupture  of  his  pastoral  relations. 

With  these  preliminary  remarks  the  reader  can  enter 
with  greater  interest  in  the  following  conversation  of  the 
Connecticut  pastor  with  his  friend,  after  the  two  had  been, 
together  but  a  brief  period. 

"  Is  there  any  thing  new  in  your  parish  ?  "  the  squire  in- 
quired. 

"  Some  of  the  people  are  expecting  something  new,  I 
believe,"  was  the  facetious  reply. 

"  What  is  that  ?  " 

"  A  new  minister,"  Mr.  Edmands  replied. 

"  A  new  minister !  a  new  minister  1  What  do  you 
mean  ?  "  the  squire  with  emotion  asked. 

"  I  mean  that  I  am  thinking  of  asking  for  a  dismission," 
Mr.  Edraauds  replied. 

"I  have  thought  such  a  thing  impossible,"  the  squire 
observed.  "When  I  have  been  to  your  place  from  year 
to  year  I  have  been  greatly  gratified  in  witnessing  in- 
creasing attachment  to  you  from  your  people  ;  and  I  have 
supposed,  after  what  has  been  brought  about  by  your  in- 
strumentality, as  they  all  allowed,  that  you  was  fixed  there 
for  life.  When  I  was  there  last  fall  I  never  heard  more 
satisfaction  expressed  with  their  minister,  and  I  comfort- 
ed myself  with  reflecting  that  the  good  old  times  were 
11* 


126  A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

returning  to  ray  native  town  when  the  people  looked  upon 
their  pastor  as  settled  with  them  for  life." 

"  I  had  no  thought  of  leaving  my  people  last  fall  when 
you  were  there,"  Mr.  Edmands  replied.  "  I  was  then  as 
contented  and  satisfied  as  ever  ;  but  you  know  the  tables 
with  ministers  nowadays  suddenly  turn." 

"  I  know  it,"  said  the  squire  ;  "  I  know  it  to  my  bitter 
sorrow.  The  churches  are  in  a  sad  condition.  The  pas- 
toral relation  is  too  lightly  esteemed,  and  almost  any 
cause  can  sunder  it ;  and  frequently  for  no  cause  at  all  it  is 
annulled.  I  often  wonder  how  any  young  man  dare  look 
towards  the  profession  of  a  clergyman,  when  there  is  so 
much  evidence  at  hand  that  it  is  often  a  life  of  servitude  to 
the  facetiousness  and  cupidity  of  the  people." 

"  There  must  be  ministers,  you  know,"  Mr.  Edmands 
said,  "and " 

"  Yes,"  said  the,  squire,  very  quickly,  thereby  abridging 
the  remark  it  was  the  intention  of  Mr.  Edmands  to  make, 
"I  know  there  must  be  ministers;  but  I  am  sometimes 
afraid  there  will  not  be  many  soon." 

"  If  poor  human  nature  rules,"  said  Mr.  Edmands,  "  I 
think  ministers  may  by  and  by  be  few.  The  precarious- 
ness  of  the  tenure  which  now  holds  a  minister  to  his 
people  is  so  great,  and  the  consequences  to  himself  and 
family  of  its  rupture  are  so  disastrous  often,  as  makes  the 
office  of  a  minister  any  thing  but  desirable,  so  far  as  the 
present  world  is  concerned." 

"  That  is  true,"  said  the  squire,  "  and  my  heart  has  often 
bled  at  the  distress  I  have  seen  in  the  very  best  of  minis- 
ters, who  have  been  dismissed  for  no  fault  whatever  of 
their  own,  but  merely  to  gratify  the  pride  or  some  other 
selfish  interest  of  their  people.  It  is  for  this  reason,  I  fear, 
that  young  men  may  be  deterred  from  entering  the  minis- 
try. But  what  is  the  reason  of  your  thinking  of  asking 
for  a  dismission  ?  " 


VISIT  OF  A   CONNECTICUT  PASTOR.  127 

"  I  fear,"  said  Mr.  Edmands,  "  that  I  can  be  no  longer 
useful  to  my  people." 

"  What  is  the  matter,  pray  ?  "  asked  the  squire.  "  You 
must  have  been  guilty  of  some  conduct  which  has  suddenly 
alienated  your  people  from  you,  if  you  can  do  them  no 
more  good.  You  have  been  doing  them  good  now  for  ten 
or  twelve  years,  and  I  can't  think  they  are  yet  perfect." 

"  Ah,  well,"  said  Mr.  Edmands  ;  "  but  I  think  I  have 
done  all  for  them  which  I  can  do  whilst  the  present  feeling 
continues.  I  suspect  they  want  a  different  minister." 

"  Have  they  found  any  fault  with  you  ?  "  the  squire  asked. 

"  They  have  not,'-'  Mr.  Edmands  replied.  "  I  have  not 
heard  a  word  of  fault  found  with  any  of  my  conduct ;  and 
Deacon  Glover  says  that  he  has  never  heard  a  syllable 
uttered  to  my  discredit." 

"  Well,  Deacon  Glover,  I  suppose,  does  not  approve  of 
your  proposed  course  ?  "  said  the  squire,  "  Or  have  you 
had  any  conversation  with  him  on  the  subject  ?  " 

"  0,  yes,"  said  Mr.  Edmands  ;  "  I  have  talked  with  him 
freely  on  the  subject,  and  I  rather  think  it  is  his  opinion 
that  I  had  better  leave." 

"Deacon  Glover  thinks  you  had  better  go  away?" 
eaid  the  squire.  "  Last  fall,  when  I  was  there,  he  told  me 
that  the  people  were  never  better  satisfied  with  you  than 
they  were  then,  and  that  it  was  the  general  opinion  that 
you  had  not  only  saved  the  church  from  ruin,  but  that  you 
had  been  the  means  of  all  the  prosperity  of  both  the 
church  and  parish.  He  said  the  people  felt  very  grateful 
to  you  because  you  had  been  the  means  of  so  much  good 
to  them.  '  Why,'  said  he, '  our  meeting  house  never  would 
have  needed  enlargement  had  it  not  been  for  the  kind 
and  conciliatory  course  of  Mr.  Edmands.'  The  deacon 
cannot  now  think  that  you  had  better  go  away." 

"  He  does,  for  all  that,"  said  Mr.  Edmands ;  "  for  he 
told  me  as  much  as  to  say  '  that  I  might  be  mare  useful 


128  A  VOICE  PROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

elsewhere.'  He  said  that  he  was  satisfied  and  did  not  wish 
for  any  change  on  his  own  account,  but  that  there  were 
some  of  the  people  who  did." 

"Who  are  they,"  asked  the  squire,  "who  are  they, 
who  wish  you  to  go  away  ?  Did  the  deacon  inform  you  ?  " 

"  I  asked  the  deacon  the  same  question,"  Mr.  Edmands 
replied  ;  "  but  he  said  he  thought  he  had  better  not  inform 
me.  He  said  there  was  not  any  one  who  had  any  thing 
against  me  —  that  all  the  people  respected  me  and  loved 
me." 

"  I  have  heard  before  of  such  honeyed  reasons  for  the 
dismission  of  a  pastor,"  said  the  squire,  "and  I  most 
heartily  condemn  a  people  for  their  use.  Why  not  state 
frankly  and  freely  the  true  cause?  I  should  think  Deacon 
Glover  would  be  ashamed  of  himself  to  converse  with  you 
after  this  manner.  If  I  was  satisfied  with  my  minister, 
and  there  were  some  who  thought  he  had  better  ask  for  a 
dismission,  whilst  they  said  they  respected  and  loved  him 
withal,  I  should  say  to  them,  I  would  never  advise  him  to 
leave,  and  that  I  would  sustain  him  with  all  the  power  I 
could  command." 

"If  Deacon  Glover  would  take  this  course,"  Mr.  Ed- 
mands said,  "  he  would  have  great  influence,  I  have  no 
doubt.  He  might  be  instrumental  in  quelling  any  little 
excitement  which  might  exist  unfavorably  to  me  ;  but  I 
rather  think  he  will  not  take  a  decided  stand  in  my  favor." 

"Has  not  the  deacon  told  you  of  any  reason  urged  by 
the  people  in  favor  of  your  going  away  ? "  the  squire 
asked. 

"  No  ;  he  has  not,"  was  the  reply.  "  He  says  there  is 
not  much  of  any  reason  given.  My  wife,  however,  tells 
me  that  she  heard  from  old  Mrs.  Goldsmith  that  some  of 
the  people  wanted  a  smarter  man  than  the  present  pastor." 

"  That  is  it,  is  it  ?  "  said  the  squire,  rising  and  pacing 
the  floor.  "  They  want  a  smarter  man." 


VISIT  FBOM  A  CONNECTICUT  PASTOE.  129 

""Yes.  She  said  that  Mr.  Sampson,  who  bought  the 
house  and  store  near  the  tavern  about  a  year  ago,  thought 
that  the  people  were  now  able  to  have  a  first-rate  minister. 
They  had  a  good  large  meeting  house  ;  and  they  might 
get  as  smart  a  minister  as  any  other  parish  had.  She 
said  there  were  several  young  men  and  women  who  felt 
as  Mr.  Sampson  did." 

"  I  suppose,  then,"  said  the  squire,  "  that  this  Mr.  Samp- 
eon  has  been  exerting  himself  against  you  pretty  much 
ever  since  he  moved  into  town.  As  he  has  some  property 
and  can  make  a  good  appearance,  people  look  up  to  him 
some.  Probably  he  has  flattered  Deacon  Glover  consid- 
erably, and  inflamed  his  pride,  and  fixed  him  up  for  an  in- 
strument to  aid  in  your  dismission.  It  may  be  Mr.  Samp- 
son has  made  the  deacon  feel  that  the  parish  will  run 
down  if  they  do  not  have  what  he  would  call  a  smart 
man.  Well,  how  does  Deacon  Greene  feel  ?  " 

"  The  deacon,  at  first,"  Mr.  Edmands  answered,  "  was 
very  warm  in  denouncing  the  whole  movement.  He 
talked  with  me  with  tears  in  his  eyes  when  I  first  spoke 
to  him  about  going  away  ;  but  last  week  I  saw  him  again, 
and  I  inferred  that  he  was  leaning  towards  Deacon  Glov- 
er in  feeling." 

"Did  not  Deacon  Greene  tell  you  that  Mr.  Sampson 
wanted  you  to  go  because  he  wanted  a  smarter  preacher?" 
the  squire  inquired. 

"  Pie  did  not,"  Mr.  Edmands  said.  "  He  told  me,  at  my 
first  interview  with  him,  that  he  did  not  know  of  any  one 
who  wished  for  another  minister,  though  he  had  heard 
there  were  some  who  had  such  a  wish.  He  then  said  ho 
hoped  that  I  wpuld  not  think  of  going  —  that  he  never 
would  vote  to  have  me  dismissed.  Last  week  when  I 
saw  him  I  did  not  ask  him  if  he  knew  who  wished  me  to 
leave,  nor  did  he  tell  me.  I  considered  it  strange  that  ho 
should  appear  so  reconciled  to  my  going  away  when  he 


130  A   VOICE   FROM  THE   PARSONAGE. 

was  so  strenuous  for  my  continuance  the  first  time  I  con- 
versed with  him  on  the  subject." 

"  He  lives  one  side,  you  know,"  said  the  squire,  "  and 
don't  see  many  people.  Probably  he  had  not  seen  Deacon 
Glover  nor  heard  any  thing  from  him  in  relation  to  the 
case  when  you  first  saw  him.  Before  your  second  inter- 
view he  had  conversed  with  Deacon.  Glover,  and  probably 
was  influenced  by  him  ;  as  I  have  long  known  he  is  in- 
clined to  hearken  to  what  he  says." 

"Yes,"  said  Mr.  Edmands ;  "he  told  me  when  I  last 
saw  him  that  he  had  heard  nothing  only  from  Deacon 
Glover." 

"  That  is  the  way  'tis  done,"  said  the  squire.  "  One  or 
two  restless  spirits  in  a  parish,  for  some  pretence  or 
other,  wish  for  another  minister  ;  they  get  up  a  little 
commotion,  and  then  go  to  a  deacon,  and  either  flatter  or 
frighten  him,  or  both,  and  get  him  started  on  their  side. 
He  puts  in  a  paddle  with  them  and  stirs  the  waters  a 
little,  and  by  and  by  some  others  join  ;  and  in  this  way 
they  soon  have  the  poor  minister  all  spattered  over  ;  and 
then  the  multitude  begin  to  cry,  he  is  so  spotted  that  wo 
must  have  another  minister.  Well,  Mr.  Edmands,  from 
what  you  tell  me,  I  think  pretty  much  as  you  do  —  that 
your  usefulness  among  your  people  is  over  whilst  the 
present  feeling  continues.  You  have  given  me  no  new  in- 
formation ;  for  I  had  a  letter  from  sister  a  short  time  ago, 
in  which  she  stated  to  me  the  substance  of  what  you  have 
now  related." 

"  Ah,  "  said*  Mr.  Edmands.  "  Has  your  sister  written 
to  you  upon  the  subject  ?  Had  I  been  aware  of  that,  I 
would  not  have  been  so  particular  in  my  statements." 

"  I  thought  such  might  be  the  case,"  the  squire  replied  ; 
"and,  being  anxious  to  have  a  correct  account  of  tho 
matter,  I  thought  I  would  not  apprise  you  that  I  was  in 
any  way  informed  respecting  your  difficulties.  Sister's 


VISIT  FROM  A  CONNECTICUT  PASTOR.  131 

letter  and  your  conversation  essentially  agree.  I  will 
read  you  what  she  wrote  on  the  subject." 

"  1  should  be  happy  to  hear,"  Mr.  Edmands  replied. 

The  squire,  taking  the  letter  from  his  desk,  read  as 
follows :  — 

"  You  will  be  very  much  surprised  to  learn  that  there  is 
some  trouble  here  in  relation  to  our  good  minister.  Not- 
withstanding our  fond  hopes  that  he  would  be  permitted 
to  spend  his  days  with  us,  I  fear  we  shall  be  disappointed. 
It  seems  that  Mr.  Sampson,  who  bought  the  store  and 
house  here  about  a  year  ago,  has  never  thought  that  Mr. 
Edmands  was  a  very  great  man,  and  has  been  exerting 
himself  to  raise  a  party  against  him.  He  has  not,  how- 
ever, obtained  many  to  join  him  in  open  opposition.  There 
are  a  few  young  men  here,  over  whom  Mr.  Sampson  has 
had  great  influence,  who  sympathize  with  him.  They  have 
been  very  active  of  late  in  their  efforts  to  prejudice  peo- 
ple against  Mr.  Edmands.  As  they  belong  to  different 
families,  their  influence  will  be  felt.  It  is  said  Deacon 
Glover  has  become  much  alarmed,  and  fears  the  parish 
will  be  broken  up  if  Mr.  Edmands  does  not  ask  for  a  dis- 
mission, and  that  he  thinks  he  had  better  do  it.  It  seems 
very  strange  to  me  that  the  people  are  willing  to  lose  Mr. 
Edmands  when  there  are  so  many  here  who  esteem  him  so 
highly.  If  his  friends  would  only  bestir  themselves  and 
take  a  decided  stand,  I  have  no  fear  that  Mr.  Edmands 
will  go  ;  but  somehow  or  other  they  are  disinclined  to 
move.  I  have  heard  a  great  many  say  that  they  set  every 
thing  by  our  pastor  and  cannot  bear  the  thought  of  his 
leaving  ;  and  yet  they  don't  do  any  thing  to  show  their 
warm  attachment  or  to  put  down  the  opposition.  I  was 
talking  with  Mr.  Rawson  the  other  day,  and  he  said  it  was 
really  too  bad  for  Mr.  Sampson  to  come  into  town  to  mako 
trouble  arid  excite  opposition  to  our  minister ;  but  that 


132   -  A  VOICE   FROM  THE   PAESONAGE. 

he  did  not  know  but  it  would  be  the  easiest  way  to  have 
peace  to  let  Mr.  Edmands  go.  Deacon  Greene,  they  say, 
talks  pretty  much  in  the  same  manner.  All  say  that  Mr. 
Edmands  is  a  good,  nice  man,  that  he  has  been  the  means 
of  doing  a  great  deal  of  good  here,  and  that  they  never 
shall  have  another  minister  who  will  be  so  much  devoted 
to  the  spiritual  good  of  the  people  ;  and  yet  they  will  be 
still  and  let  a  few  turn  him  away.  I  think  Mr.  Edmands's 
friends  act  very  wickedly  in  not  rallying  around  him  and 
manifesting  a  strong  determination  to  keep  him.  If  Dea- 
con Glover  would  take  a  firm  stand  in  his  favor  ho 
would  stay,  I  know,  for  the  deacon  has  great  influence  ; 
but  he  is  afraid,  if  he  acts  in  favor  of  the  minister,  the 
church  will  be  destroyed  and  the  meeting  house  de- 
serted. He  says  it  will  not  injure  Mr.  Edmands  to  go; 
he  is  such  a  good  man  that  he  will  soon  find  another  place. 
Now,  I  think  it  will  be  a  great  damage  to  Mr.  Edmands 
to  go.  He  has  built  him  a  pretty  house,  and  has  set 
out  a  great  many  trees,  and  the  people  have  encouraged 
him  all  along  with  the  belief  that  he  would  spend  his  days 
among  them.  If  he  should  go  away,  I  am  much  afraid  he 
will  be  discouraged  and  will  never  again  labor  with  the 
zeal  and  resolution  he  has  manifested  here.  When  I  think 
upon  the  subject  I  am  almost  distracted.  Only  think  —  a 
good,  faithful,  and'  successful  minister  being  driven  away 
by  six  or  eight  individuals,  when  the  great  body  of  the 
people  are  satisfied  with  him,  and  yet  will  not  exert  them- 
selves to  have  him  remain  through  fear  the  parish  will  be 
broken  to  pieces !  I  wish  you  were  here  as  one  of  the 
parish  ;  for  I  know  you  would  not  be  afraid  to  act.  I 
understand  Mr.  Edmands  is  going  to  Boston  the  latter 
part  of  the  month  ;  and  I  presume  he  will  call  and  see  you 
on  his  way.  I  hope  you  will  comfort  him  all  you  can." 

"  That  is  a  very  kind  expression  of  feeling  towards  you," 
the  squire  remarked,  as  he  folded  the  letter.  t 


VISIT  OF   A   CONNECTICUT  PASTOR.  133 

"  Certainly  it  is,"  Mr.  Edmands  replied.  "  I  am  obliged 
to  her  for  it." 

"  Do  you  owe  any  thing  on  your  place  ?  "  the  squire  in- 
quired. 

"  No,  sir,  I  do  not ;  I  paid  the  last  dollar  for  it  about 
eix  months  ago." 

"  That  is  good,"  said  the  squire.  "  Well,  I  suppose  the 
place  would  sell  for  more  than  it  cost  you,  as  property  has 
advanced  there  considerably  within  a  few  years." 

"  I  suppose  it  would,"  Mr.  Edmands  replied.  "  It  might 
sell  for  two  or  three  hundred  dollars  more.  Mr.  Sampson 
would  like  to  buy  it,  I  guess,  for  his  son.  He  has  asked 
me  several  times  if  I  would  sell." 

"He  has?"  said  the  squire.  "Well,  I  should  not  be 
surprised  if  he  has  been  actuated  by  some  selfish  motive 
in  his  opposition  to  you  as  much  as  by  a  desire  for  a 
smarter  preacher.  His  son  is  in  business  with  him,  I  sup- 
pose." 

"Not  yet,  I  believe,"  Mr.  Edmands  replied.  "He  is 
about  twenty  years  old.  The  report  is,  that  when  he  is 
of  age  he  is  going  into  partnership  with  his  father." 

"  Yes,  yes,"  said  the  squire,  "  I  see.  Your  house  is  near 
his  store,  and  a  very  pretty  house  it  is  too.  You  have  a 
variety  of  fruit  trees  and  of  shrubbery  which  are  now  val- 
uable, and  the  eye  of  Mr.  Sampson  has  been  directed  that 
way.  If,  now,  you  go  away  and  wish  to  sell  your  place, 
you  just  let  me  know  if  Mr.  Sampson  makes  you  an  offer 
for  it.  If  it  is  not  as  much  as  you  think  the  place  worth, 
I  will  make  you  an  offer  too.  You  need  not  fear  that  you 
shall  lose  any  thing  by  building.  You  have  been  settled, 
I  think,  about  eleven  years,"  said  the  squire,  "  and  are  now 
about  thirty-five  years  of  age  ?  " 

"  I  was  somewhat  advanced  when  I  graduated,"  Mr.  Ed- 
raands  answered,  "  and  afterwards  I  taught  school  three 
years  for  the  purpose  of  paying  some  of  my  college  bills 
12 


134  A  VOICE  FROM  THE   PARSONAGE. 

and  of  getting  a  little  something  for  my  expenses  in  the 
theological  seminary.  I  was  not  settled  till  I  was  thirty- 
one  years  old." 

"You  are  now  forty-two,"  said  the  squire,  "and  tho 
best  part  of  your  life  has  been  spent  with  your  present 
charge,  doing  them  good  —  great  good.  You  have  now 
five  children.  Well,  it  is  a  hard  case  to  be  obliged  to 
seek  a  new  home,  I  confess." 

"  I  think  it  is,"  Mr.  Edmands  replied  ;  "  and  I  dread  it. 
A  dismissed  minister  does  not  have  so  fair  a  prospect  of 
being  settled  as  one  who  has  never  been  ordained." 

"  Many  times  that  is  true,"  said  the  squire  ;  "  but  I  hope 
there  will  be  no  difficulty  in  your  case.  You  ought  not 
to  be  under  the  necessity  of  seeking  a  new  parish.  I  can- 
not get  over  the  conduct  of  some  of  your  people  in  being 
willing  to  have  you  leave  merely  to  gratify  the  pride  and 
perhaps  advance  the  pecuniary  interest  of  one  or  two  in- 
dividuals. If  you  should  go,  I  shall  feel  that  God  will 
visit  this  iniquity  on  the  church  in  some  way  or  other,  to 
bring  them  to  realize  what  they  have  done.  I  have 
known  of  instances  where  good  and  faithful  ministers 
have  been  dismissed  for  reasons  as  weak  and  wicked  as 
those  which  are  influencing  your  people,  and  their  par- 
ishes have  smarted  under  the  scourging  of  divine  Provi- 
dence." 

Soon  after  Mr.  Edmands  returned  home  he  was  induced 
to  request  a  dismission  from  his  people.  He  advertised 
his  house  for  sale,  and  it  was  not  long  before  Mr.  Samp- 
son made  him  an  offer  for  it  —  less  by  two  hundred  dollars 
than  it  cost.  One  or  two  other  similar  offers  were  ten- 
dered. At  last  Mr.  Edmands  wrote  to  the  squire  and  ap- 
prised him  of  the  matter ;  and  in  return  he.  received  a 
letter  from  his  friend,  in  which  he  made  him  an  offer  of 
three  hundred  dollars  more  than  would  cover  the  expense 
of  building.  Accordingly,  the  squire  became  the  pur- 


TISIT  OP  A   CONNECTICUT   PASTOR.  135 

chaser.  He  had  not  been  in  possession  of  the  estate  many 
months  before  Mr.  Sampson  made  proposals  to  him  to 
buy.  The  squire  fixed  his  price,  which  was  two  hundred 
dollars  in  advance  of  what  he  paid ;  and,  after  vain  at- 
tempts on  the  part  of  Mr.  Sampson  to  induce  him  to  take 
less,  he  paid  the  squire  his  price  and  received  a  deed. 
The  squire  enclosed  the  two  hundred  dollars  to  Mr.  Ed- 
mands  and  was  satisfied  altogether  with  the  speculation, 
with  the  reflection  that  he  had  saved  one  minister  at  least 
from  the  jaws  of  a  shark. 

The  reader,  and  especially  if  he  be  a  minister,  and  one, 
too,  who  has  been  dismissed,  with  a  valued*  house  and  cher- 
ished fruit  trees  planted  and  nurtured  by  his  own  hands 
in  his  possession,  will  doubtless  think  that  a  Squire  David- 
son is  not  in  every  community. 


CHAPTER    XI. 

s 

A  DESTITUTE    PARISH. 

MR.  EiJDRiDGE^having  been  settled  about  eight  years,  had 
acquired  a  high  reputation  in  the  community  and  was  a 
favorite  clergyman  in  the  adjacent  parishes.  Consequent- 
ly, in  the  absence  of  regular  pastors  on  journeys  or  other- 
wise, his  services  were  often  requested  in  the  solemniza- 
tion of  marriages  and  in  the  attendance  of  funerals.  No 
pastor  in  the  region  performed  so  much  out  of  his 
own  parish  as  was  rendered  by  Mr.  Eldridge.  Death 
having  deprived  a  somewhat  large  society  of  a  highly  re- 
spectable and  beloved  pastor,  after  the  members  of  the 
association  to  which .  the  deceased  belonged  had  alter- 
nately supplied  the  pulpit  for  the  benefit  of  the  widow 
and  children,  his  people  began  to  hear  candidates  for  settle- 
ment. Being  a  desirable  location,  many  individuals  were 
recommended  to  the  committee  of  supply  by  clergymen 
and  others'as  being  well  worthy  to  succeed  to  the  pastoral 
office  among  them.  The  people  were  led  to  believe  from 
the  large  number  of  candidates  thus  recommended  that 
they  were  an  important  people  ;  and  of  course  they  erected 
such  a  standard  of  ministerial  perfection  as  made  it  neces- 
sary to  hear  candidate  after  candidate.  Though  all  had 
a  high  standard,  yet  there  were  not  many  among  the  peo- 
ple who  bad  the  same  ideal  of  the  man  who  was  worthy 

(136) 


A    DESTITUTE    PARISH.  137 

of  the  place  in  their  pulpit  and  affections.  It  had  not 
been  noised  abroad  that  they  were  remarkably  discrimi- 
nating and  speculative  in  their  theology  ;  but  in  their 
new  position  it  came  out  that  there  were  old  schoolmen 
and  new,  Hopkinsians,  &c.  They  were  not  known  abroad 
as  a  remarkably  literary  people  ;  for  the  reason,  perhaps, 
that  so  long  a  time  had  elapsed  since  they  were  favored  with 
a  settled  ministry,  and  there  was  no  particular  occasion  of 
their  manifesting  all  that  they  knew.  But  now  it  was  sur- 
prising to  notice  the  value  they  placed  on  scholastic  ac- 
complishments and  literary  attainments.  Their  neigh- 
bors in  adjoining  parishes  had  not  supposed  from  their 
every-day  manifestations  that  pride  had  much  to  do  with 
them  ;  but  their  mistake  was  duly  discovered  and  acknowl- 
edged before  the  eighteenth  candidate  departed. 

In  the  period  of  their  destitution,  after  a  large  number 
of  young  men  and  men  in  middle  life  had  been  to  this 
parish,  tried  in  the  balances  and  found  wanting,  a  request 
was  made  by  one  of  the  deacons,  who  went  over  to  see 
Mr.  Eldridge,  that  he  would  preach  the  lecture  prepara- 
tory to  their  sacramental  occasion.  With  this  request 
Mr.  I^dridge  agreed  to  comply,  and  accordingly  went 
over  and  fulfilled  his  engagement.  Before  the  services 
he  had  no  conversation  with  any  one  of  the  people ;  for 
he  did  not  arrive  in  town  till  about  the  hour  at  which  the 
lecture  was  appointed.  As  he  was  well  known  to  the 
people  and  highly  respected  by  them,  there  were  many  in 
waiting  in  the  aisles,  and  in  the  porch  and  yard  of  the 
church,  to  take  him  by  the  hand  and  have  a  little  conver- 
sation with  him.  If  they  all  had  been  a  special  committee 
appointed  for  the  very  purpose,  they  could  not  have  better 
discharged  the  duty  of  consulting  him  in  regard  to  their 
condition  and*of  inquiring  for  a  suitable  man  for  their 
pastor. 

When  he  descended  from  the  pulpit  and  had  reached 
12* 


138  A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

the  aisle,  he  was  first  sakted  by  a  good  old  lady,  who 
manifested  great  joy  at  seeing  him  once  more. 

"I've  been  wishing  a  long  time  to  see  you,  Mr.  El- 
dridge," she  said ;  "  for  I  thought  you'd  know  of  a  good 
minister  for  us." 

"  I  hear,  my  good  friend,"  Mr.  Eldridge  replied,  "  that 
you  have  had  a  large  number  of  good  men  to  preach  for 
you  of  late.  "Were  there  none  among  them  who  would 
answer?" 

"  I  know  we've  had  a  great  many  candidates  ;  but,  some- 
how or  other,  the  people  don't  take  to  any  of  them.  We 
ought  to  have  a  settled  minister  here  ;  for  we  now  have  no 
one  to  attend  funerals  and  see  the  sick." 

"  Well,  ma'am,  if  I  could  help  you  to  a  pastor  it  would 
give  me  great  pleasure." 

Passing  on  a  step  or  two,  Mr.  Eldridge  was  greeted  by 
a  gentleman  and  his  wife,  who  were  very  glad  to  see  him. 
Said  the  lady,— 

"  Mr.  Eldridge,  what  do  you  think  is  going  to  become 
of  us  ?  Do  you  think  we  can  ever  find  a  pastor  who  will 
answer  for  us  ?  " 

"I  hope  so,  certainly,"  Mr.  Eldridge  replied. 

"  Well,  I  am  almost  discouraged,"  said  the  lady.  "  I 
do  not  see  any  prospect  of  our  being  suited." 

"  Have  not  any  of  the  individuals  who  have  preached 
for  you  given  satisfaction  ?  "  Mr.  Eldridge  inquired. 

"  Some  of  them  ought  to  have  satisfied  us,"  the  lady  re- 
plied ;  "  for  we  have  had  already  no  less  than  forty-three 
different  candidates." 

"  That  is  a  large  number  out  of  which  to  make  a  choice," 
Mr.  Eldridge  observed.  "  Have  you  not  been  united  in 
any  of  them  ?  " 

"No,  sir,  we  have  not,"  said  the  husband  <$  "and  I  think 
it  is  discouraging." 

"I  am  fearful,"  Mr.  Eldridge  remarked,  "that  your 


.*•        A    DESTITUTE    PARISH.  139 

church  do  not  look  aright  to  the  great  Shepherd  to  send 
them  a  pastor  after  his  own  heart ;  for,  if  he  is  properly 
inquired  of,  he  will  answer  prayer." 

"  That  is  what  I  have  been  telling  our  people,"  said  the 
lady.  "  We  forget  God,  and  are  trying  to  phase  ourselves." 

Stepping  a  little  farther,  Mr.  Eldridge  was  brought  to 
a  circle  of  four  ladies  and  gentlemen.  Said  one  of  the 
gentlemen,  — 

"  Mr,  Eldridge,  don't  you  think  it  is  time  we  had  a 
pastor  ?  " 

"  I  do,  most  assuredly." 

Said  another  gentleman, — 

"  Do  you  think  we  shall  ever  find  any  one  who  will 
unite  us?" 

"  If  among  the  forty-three  candidates  you  have  had,  as  I 
am  just  informed  that  is  the  number,  there  was  none  fitted 
for  you,  I  do  not  see  much  prospect  of  there  being  one  found, 
I  confess,  who  will  unite  you,"  Mr.  Eldridge  replied.  "  I 
have  known  of  your  having  had  preach  for  you  some  of 
the  very  best  of  men  ;  and  there  were  two  or  three  young 
men  in  the  number  who  for  talents  and  promise  are  equal 
to  any." 

"I  know,"  said  one  of  the  gentlemen,  "we  have  had 
most  excellent  men  here  to  preach  for  us,  but  none  of  them 
seemed  to  unite  us." 

"  I  should  think  from  your  remarks,"  said  another  gen- 
tleman, "  that  it  is  your  opinion  that  we  ought  to  have 
been  united  in  some  one  of  the  ministers  who  have 
preached  for  us.  I  would  like  to  know  which  of  them 
you  mean." 

"  There  is  Rev.  Mr.  Allen,  who  preached  for  you  four 
Sabbaths,  he  told  me  ;  and  a  better  minister  I  do  not 
know,"  Mr.  Eldridge  replied. 

"  Well,"  said  the  last  gentleman,  "  he  was  a  good 
preacher,  and  he  suited  tolerably  well;  but  some  of  the 


140         A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

people  thought  he  would  not  answer  because  he  had  not  a 
very  good  delivery." 

"He  is  thought  to  be  a  very  good  speaker,"  Mr.  El- 
dridge  said.  "  Perhaps  he  is  not  the  very  best ;  but  he  is 
much  more  than  an  ordinary  orator." 

"  He  would  have  suited  us  if  it  had  not  been  for  this 
one  thing." 

"What  was  the  matter  with  that  Mr.  Lane  who  preached 
here  ?  "  Mr.  Eldridge  inquired. 

"  Mr.  Lane,  Mr.  Lane,"  repeated  the  gentleman.  "  I  do 
not  seem  to  remember  him." 

"  0,  that  little  man,  father,"  said  his  wife,  —  "that  little 
man  that  they  talked  so  much  about." 

"  0,  yes,  I  remember  now  —  Mr.  Lane.  0,  he  would  not 
answer  for  us ;  he  was  nothing  more  than  a  mere  boy. 
As  soon  as  he  was  seen  entering  the  pulpit  we  all  thought 
he  would  not  answer;  for  he  was  not  dignified  enough 
for  us." 

"  That  was  all  the  objection  to  him,  was  it,"  said  Mr. 
Eldridge,  "  his  small  stature  ?  " 

"  I  never  heard  of  any  other.  His  preaching  all  liked 
very  much,"  said  the  gentleman. 

"  Well,  what  objection  was  there  to  Mr.  Reed  ?  "  Mr. 
Eldridge  inquired. 

"  We  ought  to  have  settled  him,"  said  one  of  the  ladies. 
"He  was  a  fine  preacher,  and  a  very  sociable,  pleasant 
man.  He  was  very  well  liked  ;  but,  because  he  had  red 
hair,  some  of  the  people  said  they  could  not  vote  for  him. 
They  said  the  hair  was  a  small  circumstance  ;  but  it  made 
some  talk  among  the  young  folks,  and  that,  when  they 
Were  about  it,  they  might  as  well  as  not  get  a  minister 
who  was  good  looking." 

"  Yes,"  said  Mr.  Eldridge ;  "  I  suppose  your  people  think 
they  can  have  what  minister  they  please,  if  they  can  only 
find  one  who  will  please  them." 


A   DESTITUTE    PARISH.  141 

"That  is  it,"  another  of  the  ladies  remarked  ;  "that  is 
just  what  I  have  often  told  some  of  the  people.  They 
think  any  minister  would  accept  a  call  to  settle  here  pro- 
vided a  call  was  given.  Such  a  feeling  I  do  not  like  my- 
self. I  think  it  will  be  some  time  before  we  get  a  pastor 
unless  the  people  alter  some  of  their  notions." 

"  I  am  fearful  that  this  may  be  the  case,"  Mr.  Eldridge 
replied. 

"  I  don't  believe  in  being  so  particular  about  every  little 
thing  in  a  minister,"  the  last  lady  said.  "  I  think  it  is 
very  sinful.  Now,  we  have  had,  I  believe,  some  of  the 
very  best  of  ministers  to  preach  for  us.  Almost  any  one 
of  them  was,  if  any  thing,  too  good  for  us  ;  and  yet  some 
little  trifling  thing  or  other  has  kept  us  from  giving  a  call 
to  either  of  them." 

"You  know,  Mrs.  Dimmick,"  said  one  of  the  gentlemen, 
"  we  were  going  to  give  a  call  to  one  of  them,  but " 

"  Yes,  yes,"  she  said.  "  There  was  a  clergyman  from 
New  York  who  preached  here  one  Sabbath  who  was  out 
of  health,  and  was  spending  a  few  weeks  in  the  town 
where  the  young  man  who  was  then  supplying  us  resided. 
It  being  communion  Sabbath,  and  as  the  young  man  was 
not  ordained,  he  requested  this  New  York  minister  to 
come  over  and  administer  the  sacrament.  This  circum- 
stance was  not  generally  known,  and  so  he  was  taken  for 
a  candidate  of  course  ;  for  every  one  who  preached  here 
was  looked  upon  as  a  candidate.  This  man  was  not  liked 
by  many  at  first,  because  he  spoke  so  low ;  but  when  they 
found  out  that  he  was  settled  in  the  city  they  were  going 
1o  give  him  a  call.  They  would  really  have  done  this  had 
not  the  young  man,  when  he  came  back,  told  us  it  would 
do  no  good." 

"  I  never  heard  of  this  before,"  Mr.  Eldridge  remarked. 
"  Perhaps  the  New  York  minister  would  have  felt  himself 
highly  honored  with  a  call  from  your  people." 


142  A   VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

"  Our  people  feel  a  little  mortified  about  this,"  Mrs. 
Dimmick  continued,  "and  don't  like  to  hear  any  thing 
about  it." 

After  this  manner  did  our  Mr.  Eldridge  make  his  egress 
from  the  pulpit  through  the  aisle  to  the  porch  of  the 
church,  where  he  met  with  others,  who,  before  they  left 
him,  had  something  to  say  of  their  prospects  of  having  a 
settled  minister.  Why  they  remained  destitute  when  they 
had  so  many  candidates,  some  assigned  one  reason  and 
some  another ;  and  it  was  a  fact  which  made  no  slight 
impression  on  Mr.  Eldridge's  mind  that  no  two  individuals 
assigned  the  same  reason ;  yet  all  appeared  extremely  anx- 
ious to  have  a  pastor,  and  were  willing  to  submit  to  almost 
any  sacrifice  if  tJiey  could  only  obtain  the  right  kind  of  a  man. 
When  he. reached  the  yard  and  was  making  his  way  to 
the  shed  back  of  the  church,  where  he  left  his  carriage,  he 
was-followed  by  three  gentlemen,  whom  he  found  to  be 
the  committee  for  supplying  the  pulpit.  They  seemed  to 
think  that  they  had  a  pretty  difficult  task  to  fulfil,  and  all 
were  rejoicing  that  the  annual  meeting  of  the  parish  was 
near,  when  they  could  resign  their  committeeship  into 
other  hands.  One  of  them  remarked,  — 

"  I  had  no  idea  that  we  should  be  troubled  so  to  find  a 
minister  to  suit  us.  I  thought  there  were  a  plenty  of  min- 
isters, and  that  we  should  find  the  right  kind  of  a  man  in 
two  months  ;  but  I  have  been  sadly  disappointed.  Minis- 
ters are  rather  scarce,  I  should  think  ;  are  they  not,  Mr. 
Eldridge  ?  " 

The  gentleman  appeared  so  sincere  in  his  bewailment 
over  the  dearth  of  candidates  that  Mr.  Eldridge  found  it 
no  easy  matter  to  so  adjust  his  facial  expression  as  not  to 
betray  the  true  sentiments  of  his  heart  as  his  laughing 
powers  should  have  full  play  ;  for  he  was  thinking  of  the 
forty-three  candidates  the  parish  had  already  had  ;  but  he 
succeeded  in  preserving  his  equilibrium  and  gravity,  and 
coolly  remarked,  — 


A  DESTITUTE  PARISH.  143 

"  I  fear  there  may  be  a  scarcity  of  ministers,  if  tv^re  be 
not  one  already." 

"  We've  had  a  pretty  hard  time  of  it,"  said  another  of 
the  committee ;  "  and,  for  my  part,  I  am  completely  dis- 
couraged. I  have  been  to  Boston  six  or  eight  times  on 
purpose  to  inquire  of  the  city  ministers  if  they  could  not 
send  us  the  right  kind  of  a  man ;  and  I  have  been  to  An- 
dover  four  times  on  the  same  errand.  I  told  the  profess- 
ors there  what  kind  of  a  minister  we  must  have  ;  and  yet 
here  we  are  without  a  pastor  and  without  any  prospect  of 
one,  so  far  as  I  can  see." 

"  Did  not  the  professors  think  they  could  send  you  a 
suitable  man  ?  "  Mr.  Eldridge  inquired. 

"  0,  yes  ;  they  mentioned  several  young  men,  who  they 
said  were  very  promising  as  to  talents  and  piety  ;  and  I 
went  and  saw  them  all,  and  agreed  with  them  to  come 
here  one  after  another  if  it  should  be  necessary." 

"  Did  they  all  come  ?  "  Mr.  Eldridge  inquired. 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  they  all  came,  every  man  of  them,  one  after 
the  other,  and  preached  ;  but  neither  of  them  was  just  the 
thing  for  us." 

"  It  is  extremely  unfortunate,"  Mr.  Eldridge  remarked, 
"  that  there  is  no  one  to  be  found  who  is  just  the  man 
for  you." 

"  Well,"  the  last  gentleman  said,  "  I  am  going  to  make 
one  pull  more  for  a  pastor  ;  and  if  I  don't  succeed,  I've 
done.  I  am  going  to  start  next  week  for  New  York,  to 
see  if  there  ain't  some  ministers  that  way.  We've  tried 
pretty  much  all  we  could  hear  of  in  this  region." 

Said  Mr.  Eldridge  with  great  solemnity  and  earnest- 
ness,— 

"  Gentlemen,  it  appears  to  me  that  putt,  as  you  call  it,  is 
not  so  good  a  one  as  another  I  could  mention." 

This  remark  of  Mr.  Eldridge  excited  hope  in  the  minds 
of  all  the  gentlemen  that  relief  would  speedily  be  brought 


144         A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

to  them  in  the  person  of  a  clergyman  whom  he  could 
recommend  as  being  just  the  man  to  unite  all  parties  and 
humor  all  tastes.  Particularly  the  one  who  was  design- 
ing to  make  one  more  "pull"  was  unusually  excited,  and 
at  once  asked, — 

"  What  is  your  plan,  Mr.  Eldridge  ?  " 

"  Since  I  have  been  here,"  Mr.  Eldridge  replied,  — 
"  since  I  have  been  here,  engaged  in  conversation  for  a 
few  moments,  I  think  I  have  learned  from  one  and  another 
what  is  the  real  condition  of  this  people.  It  has  been  im- 
pressed upon  my  mind  that  you  did  not  realize  what  you 
wanted  in  a  pastor,  and  had  not  looked  to  the  great  Be- 
ing who  giveth  pastors  and  teachers,  and  asked  of  him, 
with  humility  and  submission,  to  send  you  a  suitable  min- 
ister. Now,  my  advice  to  you  is,  to  stop  hearing  candi- 
dates for  a  few  weeks,  and  get  your  pulpit  supplied  by 
some  one  who  does  not  wish  to  settle,  and,  in  the  mean 
time,  for  your  church  and  people  to  humble  themselves 
before  God  and  seek  from  him  a  pastor.  If  you  do  this 
sincerely,  I  have  no  doubt  that  the  Lord  would  inter- 
pose and  send  you  a  pastor  in  whom  you  all  will  be 
united." 

Whilst  Mr.  Eldridge  was  thus  speaking  it  was  observed 
that  the  gentlemen  of  the  committee  —  and  particularly 
the  one  who  was  intending  to  make  another  "  pull "  — 
were  somewhat  abashed  and  disconcerted  ;  for  after  he 
had  done  there  was  profound  silence,  neither  of  them 
having  an  answer  at  hand.  At  length  one  said,  — 

"  I  think  your  advice,  Mr.  Eldridge,  is  very  good  ;  and 
I  will  mention  it  to  the  people." 

Mr.  Eldridge  had  no  more  interruptions  and  proceeded 
to  his  carriage,  in  which  he  was  soon  conveyed  to  the 
house  of  Deacon  Follet,  where  he  had  engaged  to  stop  for 
tea.  When  he  entered  the  house  he  found  there  an  old 
clerical  friend  of  his  own  as  well  as  of  the  deacon,  who  a 


A  DESTITUTE  PARISH.  145 

few  moments  before  had  rode  up  to  make  a  call  as  he  was 
passing  on  to  his  home  in  a  neighboring  town. 

"  You  were  detained  some  time,"  Mrs.  Follet  remarked, 
"  were  you  not,  Mr.  Eldridge,  by  our  people  ?  We  waited 
at  church  a  few  moments  for  you  ;  but,  seeing  you  busy  in 
conversation,  Mr.  Follet  said  we  would  go  on  without  you." 

"  I  have  had  quite  a  time  of  it,"  Mr.  Eldridge  replied  ; 
"  but  I  have  acquired  a  pretty  good  knowledge  of  the 
state  of  your  people.  I  had  no  idea  you  were  in  such  a 
condition." 

"  I  suppose,"  said  Mrs.  Follet,  "  the  people  have  been 
talking  to  you  about  a  minister.  That  seems  to  be  the 
only  topic  of  conversation  nowadays." 

"  Yes  ;  they  have,"  Mr.  Eldridge  replied  ;  "  and,  from 
what  they  said,  I  think  your  parish  is  not  in  a  very  hope- 
ful condition." 

"  We  are  in  a  most  dreadful  condition"  Mrs.  Follet  re- 
marked. "  There  is  no  such  thing  as  a  minister's  suiting 
us.  I  don't  know  what  will  be  the  result.  Sometimes  I 
think  we  shall  be  broken  all  to  pieces.  Only  think,  we've 
had  above  forty  different  ministers  preach  for  us  since  last 
December,  — not  quite  a  year,  —  and  none  of  them  seemed 
to  answer  but  one !  A  gentleman  from  New  York  preached 
last  summer  one  Sabbath ;  but  the  people  did  not  know 
who  he  was  or  where  he  was  from  at  the  time.  They  sup- 
posed he  was  a  candidate  of  course  ;  and  there  were  some 
who  thought  he  would  not  answer  ;  but  when  it  was  as- 
certained that  he  was  from  New  York  the  case  changed, 
and  there  was  quite  a  stir  about  a  parish  meeting  for  the 
purpose  of  giving  him  a  call  ;  and  I  really  believe  they 
would  have  done  this  had  not  Mr.  Byron,  who  was  then 
supplying  for  us,  assured  the  people  that  it  would  be  of 
no  avail." 

The  deacon  coming  in  from  the  barn,  where  he  had 
13 


146-  A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

been  to  take  care  of  Mr.  Eldridge's  horse,  Mrs. 
observed, — 

"  Husband,  Mr.  Eldridge  has  had  quite  a  time  of  it  at 
the  meeting  house  since  lecture.  He  has  heard  considera- 
ble news  about  us  here." 

"I  presume  so,"  said  the  deacon.  "  I  dare  say  he  has 
been  applied  to  by  a  dozen  or  more  to  recommend  can- 
didates." 

"  Well,  deacon,"  said  Mr.  Eldridge,  "  I  shall  not  recom- 
mend any  candidates  to  you  at  present.  I  think  there 
have  been  already  far  too  many." 

"  That  is  a  fact,"  said  the  deacon  ;  "  and  if  I  were  in 
your  place  I  would  not  encourage  such  a  state  of  things 
as  we  have  here.  Our  people  are  not  in  a  fit  condition  to 
hear  candidates.  They  don't  know  what' they.want.  We 
have  now  had  forty  or  more  good  men  here,  and  yet  none 
of  them  suited.  Some  were  too  short  and  some  too  tall  ; 
some  had  light  hair  and  some  red  ;  some  had  too  many 
children  and  others  had  not  any ;  some  were  old-school 
men  and  others  new ;  some  walked  too  moderately  and 
were  lazy  ;  others  walked  too  fast  and  were  not  dignified  ; 
some  stammered  and  others  talked  like  lightning ;  and 
in  this  way  one  little  foolish  thing  or  other  has  been 
raised  into  a  bugbear  to  keep  us  from  having  a  settled 
minister." 

"  0  husband,"  said  Mrs.  Follet,  "you  are  exaggerating. 
No  one  has  objected  to  any  of  the  ministers  on  account  of 
their  hair." 

"  Yes,  my  dear,  there  has.  Mr.  Olney  and  Mr.  White 
had  no  other  objection  to  Mr.  Reed  but  his  red  hair." 

"How  do  you  know  that?  "  the  wife  inquired. 

"  0,  it  leaked  out  through  their  children,"  the  deacon 
replied. 

"  I  knew  they  were  not  inclined  to  settle  Mr.  Reed," 


A  DESTITUTE  PARISH.  147 

Mr.  Follet  said.  "  I  asked  Mrs.  Olney  one  day  what  ob- 
jection she  had  to  him.  I  saw  she  did  not  seem  ready  to 
answer,  and  that  she  had  no  very  definite  objection.  I 
should  not  think  they  would  object  to  a  man's  hair,  if 
what  was  under  it  was  good." 

"  I  rather  suspect,"  Mr.  Eldridge  remarked,  "  that  you 
are  not  among  the  difficult  ones,  Mrs.  Follet." 

"  I  think,"  she  replied,  "  that  I  could  have  been  satis- . 
fied  with  almost  any  one  of  the  candidates  we  have  had. 
Our  people  ought  to  have  been  united  in  one  of  them  and 
settled  him  before  this.  A  large  part  of  them  have  been 
ordained  or  installed  over  other  paris/ies,  some  of  which, 
for  numbers,  wealth,  and  intelligence,  are  far  before  our 
own." 

"  Then  you  think  all  parishes  are  not  as  difficult  and 
fastidious  as  yours  ?  " 

"  Indeed  I  do,"  Mrs.  Follet  replied,  "  though  I  think  a 
very  wrong  spirit  enters  very  often  into  a  people  when 
looking  for  a  pastor." 

"  There  are  some  parishes,  however,"  Mr.  Eldridge  ob- 
served, "  when  destitute  of  a  pastor,  who  act  with  great 
wisdom  and  with  much  Christian  principle.  They  show 
themselves  to  be  competent  judges  of  the  qualifications  of 
a  pastor." 

"  Yes,"  said  Mrs.  Follet,  "  I  know  there  are  some  such 
parishes.  It  really  does  one  good  to  think  of  them.  They 
do  not  appear  to  feel  that  they  must  have  perfection  in  a 
pastor,  and  wait  and  wait,  hearing  different  ministers 
continually,  in  expectation  of  finding  perfection  at  last. 
However,  parishes  of  this  description  at  the  presenftime 
are  few  and  far  between.  The  great  majority,  when  hear- 
ing candidates,  are  in  the  exercise  of  a  very  improper 
spirit." 

"  I  do  not  know  but,  that  is  true,"  said  Mr.  Eldridge. 
"I  see  too  much  of  such  a  spirit,  I  confess." 


148  A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

"  It  is  melancholy,"  said  Mr.  Harris,  the  clergyman  be- 
fore alluded  to,  —  "it  is  melancholy  to  notice  the  fastidi- 
ousness of  many  of  our  parishes  when  they  are  seeking  to 
settle  a  minister.  I  have  thought  that  the  influence  of  this 
feeling  has  checked  a  desire  on  the  part  of  young  men  to 
study  for  the  ministry." 

"  It  may  have  been  one  cause  to  produce  this  result," 
Mr.  Eldridge  said.  "  Many  pious  young  men,  I  know, 
when  they  leave  college  study  other  'professions.  It  is  by 
no  means  surprising  that  a  young  man  should  be  affected 
by  such  a  state  of  things  as  we  know  exists  among  this 
people,  for  instance." 

"  It  was  new  to  me,"  said  Mr.  Harris,  "  that  the  people 
here  have  already  had  upwards  of  forty  candidates.  They 
have  rather  surpassed  the  people  in  G- ." 

"  Have  not  the  people  there  yet  settled  a  minister  ?  I 
thought  brother  Swift  was  going  there,"  said  Mr.  El- 
dridge. 

"  No  ;  the  call  'was  not  sufficiently  unanimous  to  suit 
him,"  Mr.  Harris  said.  "  There  was  a  large  minority  who 
were  opposed  to  his  settlement." 

"  I  am  really  sorry  to  hear  of  this,"  said  Mr.  Eldridge  ; 
"  for  I  was  hoping  that  parish  was  now  satisfied.  Who  is 
preaching  there  now  ?" 

"  Mr.  Anybody,  I  believe,"  said  Mr.  Harris. 

"  Well,  there  are  quite  a  number  of  clergymen  by  that 
name,"  said  Mr.  Eldridge.  "  I  very  often  hear  of  them  in 
vacant  parishes,  and  I  think  they  must  be  a  very  poor 
supply." 

"  But  a  little  better  than  Mr.  Nobody,  I  think,"  said 
the  deacon. 

"  From  what  I  have  heard,"  said  Mr.  Harris, "  since  I  have 

been  here,  I  should  think  the  parish  in  G to  be  very 

much  like  this  people.  I  was  coaversing  the  other  day 
with  brother  Thompson,  who  formerly  was  settled  there, 


A   DESTITUTE  PAEISH.  149 

but  who  was  dismissed  on  account  of  ill  health.  In  remark- 
ing about  his  old  people,  he  said, '  They  are  in  a  sad  state 
there  now.'  He  recently  received  a  letter  from  one  of  his 
former  parishioners,  from  which  he  inferred  that  the  pros- 
pect of  their  having  a  pastor  was  very  dark.  He  read  to  me 
a  paragraph  descriptive  of  the  state  of  things  there,  which 
so  accurately  portrays  the  condition  of  many  other  parishes 
when  hearing  candidates  that  I  was  induced  to  request 
of  him  a  copy,  which  he  at  once  wrote  and  gave  me.  I 
put  it  in  my  wallet ;  and  I  believe  I  have  it  with  me  now, 
and  will  read  it  if  you  please." 

"  If  it  describes  our  case,"  said  the  deacon,  "  I  should 
like  to  hear  it ;  for  I  cannot  believe  there  is  any  other 
parish  so  difficult  as  ours." 

"  You  can  judge  now  for  yourself,"  said  Mr.  Harris,  as 
he  proceeded  to  read  as  follows  :  "  '  We  have  no  settled 
minister  yet,  and  I  do  not  know  as  there  is  any  prospect 
of  our  having  one  very  soon.  From  thirty  to  forty  dif- 
ferent men  have  preached  here  ;  but  not  a  perfect  man  was 
there  in  the  whole  lot.  One  preached  too  long,  another 
was  too  brief ;  one  was  too  slow,  another  spoke  too  fast ; 
one  spoke  too  loud,  another  quite  too  low  ;  some  were  too 
flowery  in  their  style  of  writing,  others  quite  too  plain 
and  old  fashioned  ;  one  was  too  proud,  and  did  not  suit 
because  he  was  married  ;  still  another  because  he  was  not 
married.  Now  we  are  very  anxious  to  settle  a  minister  ; 
but  we  are  probably  setting  our  standard  quite  too  high.' " 

"  That  is  a  pretty  good  description  of  our  case,"  said 
the  deacon.  "Where  do  you  say  that  place  is,  Mr. 
Harris?" 

"  G ,"  was  the  reply. 

"  0,  yes,"  said  the  deacon  ;  "  I  know  where  it  is.  I  have 
been  there." 

"  Well,"  said  Mrs.  Follet,  "  I  think  we  have  had  quite 
too  many  candidates.  I  wish  the  people  had  done  hero 
13* 


150  A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

-\ 

as  they  did  in  the  place  where  my  father  lives.  Dr.  E. 
wished  for  a  colleague,  and  the  people  were  inclined  to 
comply  with  his  request.  Before  the  time  came,  however, 
for  him  to  quit  preaching,  he  urged  upon  the  people  the 
importance  of  not  having  many  candidates.  It  is  not  neces- 
sary, he  said,  to  hear  many ;  and  besides,  he  said,  there 
was  much  evil  occasioned  by  so  doing.  The  people  be- 
come divided.  A  few  become  •  attached  to  one  candidate 
and  a  few  to  another  ;  and  so  one  party,  by  and  by,  will 
not  like  the  man  popular  with  the  other  party,  out  of  re- 
venge. '  Now,'  said  he,  '  my  advice  to  you  is,  to  inquire 
for  some  suitable  young  man  to  come  here  and  preach. 
If  one  be  recommended,  let  the  committee  make  very  par- 
ticular examination  of  those  who  are  well  acquainted 
with  him  as  to  his  talents,  piety,  acquisitions,  discretion, 
&c.  If  after  this  examination  they  are  satisfied  that  the 
young  man  would  be  a  proper  person,  let  the  committee 
go  and  see  him ;  and  if  from  his  appearance  they  infer 
that  they  have  had  a  correct  account  of  him,  let  them 
partly  engage  him  to  come  and  preach  a  few  Sabbaths.  I 
would  not,'  the  doctor  said,  '  have  him  fully  engaged  until 
the  committee  had  returned  home  and  made  known  to  the 
people  the  result  of  their  interview,  and  ascertained  if  there 
was  any  probability  of  their  being  united  in  him.  If  the 
people  then  favor  his  coming  and  seem  inclined  to  give 
him  a  call,  if  he  makes  good  the  representations  which 
have  been  made  of  him,  then  I  would  have  the  young  man 
sent  for  and  employed  to  preach.' " 

"  That  is  very  judicious  and  most  excellent  advice,  I 
should  think,"  Mr.  Eldridge  remarked.  "  I  hope  the  peo- 
ple followed  it." 

"  Yes,  sir,  they  did ;  and  they  did  not  hear  but  one  can- 
didate. No  one  preached  before  Mr.  Kingsbury  ;  and  the 
people,  by  being  prepared  to  like  him,  were  well  satisfied 
with  him,  and  gave  him  a  call,  which  he  accepted.  The 


A   DESTITUTE  PARISH.  151 

committee  made  inquiries  about  quite  a  number  of  men  and 
went  to  see  several  of  them  ;  but  they  did  not  feel  satisfied 
that  any  one  of  them  would  answer  whom  they  could 
obtain  but  Mr.  Kingsbury." 

"  I  advised  the  committee  here  this  afternoon,"  Mr.  El- 
dridge  said,  "  to  pursue  a  course  which  might  lead  to  a 
similar  result.  I  advised  them  to  suspend  hearing  candi- 
dates for  the  present,  and  to  urge  upon  the  church  the 
importance  of  humbling  themselves  before  God  for  their 
past  sinfulness,  and  especially  for  not  looking  to  him  for  a 
pastor.  I  told  them,  if  they  would  do  this  in  sincerity,  I 
thought  the  time  would  not  be  distant  before  they  would 
have  sent  unto  them  a  pastor  in  whom  all  would  be  united." 

"  That  is  good  advice,"  said  the  deacon  ;  "  and  I  rather 
think  it  will  have  some  effect." 


CHAPTER    XII. 

MISS   BEMIS. 

^v_  /f)l'4S*fa4  &~~      ytsr'  u 

"  Do  you  think  you  will  be  able  to  visit  Mrs.  Clay,  my 
dear,  this  afternoon  ?  "  inquired  Mr.  Eldridge  of  his  wife. 

"I  have  been  making  iny  arrangements  to  do  so,  hus-'    ^ 
band.     I  think  it  will  do  to  leave  Mary  in  the  care  of 
Hannah,  she  is  so  comfortable.     She  is  usually  contented, 
I  perceive,  when  Hannah  is  with  her." 

"  I  am  pleased  to  hear  you  say  this,"  Mr.  Eldridge  re- 
plied ;  "  for  I  was  fearful  that  you  might  not  be  inclined  to 
go.  I  think  it  will  be  perfectly  safe  and  proper  to  leave 
daughter  with  Hannah." 

"  Were  I  to  consult  my  own  feelings,"  said  Mrs.  El- 
dridge, "  I  should  much  prefer  visiting  Mrs.  Clay  at  some 
other  time  ;  for  you  know  I  am  not  very  partial  to  these 
large  parties." 

"  There  will  not  be  many  there,  will  there,  wife  ?  " 

"  0,  yes,  dear.  Did  I  not  tell  you  that  Mrs.  Clay  re- 
marked, when  she  called  to  invite  us,  that  she  was  intend- 
ing to  ask  all  her  acquaintance  in  town  and  some  from 
other  places  ?  " 

"  You  might  have  said  so,"  Mr.  Eldridge  replied  ;  "  but 
I  have  hardly  thought  of  the  visit ;  for  you  know  how  en- 
tirely engrossed  I  have  been  of  late  with  that  translation. 
If  Mrs.  Clay  is  intending  to  have  so  many  of  her  friends 
together  I  think  we  ought  to  go  ;  for  she  would  be  much 

(152) 


MISS  BEMIS.  153 

disappointed  if  we  were  not  there.     Mrs.  Davidson  would 
like  to  have  you  ride  with  her." 

"  Yes,  dear  ;  she  sent  word  over  this  morning  that  she 
would  be  happy  to  have  me  accompany  her,  but  that  she 
could  not  be  ready  before  late  in  the  afternoon." 
*  *  *  *  *  # 

When  Mrs.  Davidson  and  Mrs.  Eldridge  arrived  at 
Mrs.  Clay's,  they  found  a  large  collection  of  ladies  both 
from  their  own  town  and  other  places.  The  company  was 
much  larger  than  they  had  anticipated  ;  but,  being  generally 
old  acquaintances,  their  presence  was  for  their  increased 
satisfaction.  Mrs.  Davidson  was  particularly  happy  in 
recognizing  some  of  her  friends  whom  she  had  not  met 
for  a  considerable  length  of  time.  The  evening  brought 
an  accession  to  the  assemblage  in  the  gentlemen  who  be- 
longed to  the  different  families  with  which  the  ladies  were 
connected. 

As  is  usual  in  such  gatherings,  large  and  small  circles 
were  seen,  made  up  of  individuals  of  similarity  in  tastes, 
or  between  whom  existed  strong  friendship.  For  a  while 
Mrs.  Davidson  was  surrounded  by  several  of  her  particu- 
lar friends  in  animated  conversation  on  different  matters  ; 
and  so  happy  were  they,  as  an  occasional  loud  laugh  testi- 
fied, that  the  attention  of  others  was  directed  to  them, 
with  -the  remark  that  there  must  be  something  very  amus- 
ing going  on  where  they  were.  It  turned  out  that  the 
source  of  their  interest  was  in  the  conversation  of  Mrs. 
Whately  with  Mrs.  Davidson  on  scenes  she  had  lately 
witnessed  in  a  journey  for  the  benefit  of  her  health.  This 
being  the  fact,  and  the  others  perceiving  that  Mrs.  David- 
son and  Mrs.  "Whately  had  very  much  to  say  to  each 
other,  though  by  no  means  manifesting  a  disrelish  for  the 
society  of  those  around  them,  one  after  another  changed 
their  locality,  till  the  two  friends  were  left  entirely  by 
themselves  in  one  corner  of  the  parlor.  "When  thus  alone, 
Mrs.  Davidson  remarked,  — 


154  A  VOICE   FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

"  We  seem  to  be  left  to  ourselves,  Mrs.  Whately." 

"  So  it  appears,"  Mrs.  Whately  replied ;  "  and  I  will 
now  improve  the  opportunity  of  asking  you  who  that 
lady  is,  sitting  by  the  side  of  Mr.  Eldridge,  who  has  been 
conversing  with  him  for  so  long  a  time." 

"  That  is  Miss  BEMIS,"  said  Mrs.  Davidson,  "  a  member 
of  our  church." 

"  She  seems  to  be  rather  partial  to  your  minister,  I 
should  think,"  Mrs.  Whately  observed  ;  "  for  I  see  she  has 
been  conversing  with  him  pretty  much  ever  since  he 
came  in." 

"  She  has  probably  been  giving  him  some  advice  or  mak- 
ing some  suggestions  as  to  his  duty,"  Mrs.  Davidson  said. 
"  She  appears  to  feel  as  if  the  care  and  oversight  of  the 
parish  devolved  upon  her.  She  is  quite  a  ministerial  sort 
of  a  lady,  and  very  fond  of  being  noticed  by  the  clergy." 

"Is  she  a  minister's  daughter  ?"  Mrs.  Whately  inquired. 

"  0,  no,"  said  Mrs.  Davidson.  "  Her  father  was  a 
farmer  in  moderate  circumstances.  He  lived  and  died  in 
this  town.  She  formerly  lived  with  Mr.  Loririg,  who  was 
settled  here  before  Mr.  Eldridge  came,  and  was  made  con- 
siderable of  in  his  family.  She  there  saw  much  of  minis- 
ters, and  has  since  always  manifested  a  large  share  of 
interest  in  their  matters." 

"  Where  does  she  now  live  ?  "  Mrs.  Whately  asked. 

"  She  has  a  room  in  Mr.  Bently's  house,  near  Mr.  Dixon's 
store.  She  is  rather  poor,  and  takes  in  sewing,  binds 
shoes,  and  can  turn  her  hand  to  a  variety  of  things." 

"  Is  she  not  over  nice  ?  From  her  appearance  I  should 
think  she  was,"  said  Mrs.  Whately. 

"  What  makes  you  think  so  ?  "  said  Mrs.  Davidson,  with 
a  very  expressive  smile. 

"0,1  don't  know  ;  but  she  appears  to  me  to  be  one  of 
your  very  particular  sort  of  persons." 

"  She  has  that  character  here  in  town,"  Mrs.  Davidson 


•-  MISS  BEMIS.  155 

replied.  "  She  tliinks  she  is  a  sort  of  a  standard.  I  rather 
suspect  she  feels  competent  to  decide  almost  any  point  of 
propriety.  At  any  rate,  she  takes  it  upon  herself  thus  to 
decide." 

"  She  is  pretty  free,  then,  to  express  her  opinions,  is  she 
not?"  said  Mrs.  Whately. 

"  She  is  not  at  all  backward,  I  assure  you,"  Mrs.  David- 
son said,  "  especially  in  matters  pertaining  to  the  minister 
or  the  church  and  parish.  She  exacts  a  great  deal  of  the 
whole  of  us,  minister  and  all.  There  is  no  such  thing  as 
any  of  us  doing  enough  —  we  are  always  behindhand  in 
some  thing,  not  up  to  the  mark  in  any  thing.  My  husband 
can  hardly  endure  her.  She  is  very  much  given  to  making 
comparisons  between  the  engagedness  of  Christians  here 
and  those  elsewhere,  and  between  Mr.  Eldridge's  preach- 
ing and  his  activity  among  the  people  and  the  preaching 
and  conduct  of  other  ministers.  She  is  so  very  particular 
as  to  be  seldom  satisfied." 

"  She  is  a  very  engaged  Christian  herself,  I  suppose," 
said  Mrs.  Whately.  "Her  own  mark  is  ,high,  and  she 
thinks  others  ought  to  have  a  similar  standard." 

Mrs.  Davidson  smiled  and  said,  "  If  speaking  of  the 
failures  of  others,  and  being  of  constant  annoyance  to  her 
pastor  and  others,  by  her  improper  interference  with  his 
concerns  and  those  of  his  family,  make  an  engaged  Chris- 
tian, Miss  Bemis  is  surely  such  a  one.  We  think  she 
keeps  her  eye  too  much  abroad  and  not  enough  within" 

"  I  should  think,'-'  said  Mrs  Whately,  "  that  Mr,  Eldridge 
would  endeavor  to  show  her  the  sin  of  such  conduct,  and 
persuade  her  to  change  her  character  in  this  respect." 

"  I  rather  think,"  said  Mrs.  Davidson,  "  Mr.  Eldridge 
will  not  make  the  attempt.  He  has  a  very  correct  idea 
of  her  character." 

"  If  she  is  given  to  censure,"  said  Mrs.  Whately,  "  and 
if  her  remarks  lead  to  mischief,  I  really  think  your  minis- 


156  A  VOICE   FEOM   THE  PAKSONAGE. 

ter  ought  to  attempt  to  make  her  sensible  of  her  influence 
and  induce  her  to  amend." 

"  She  is  so  very  severe  on  ministers  and  on  Mr.  Eldridge 
and  his  wife  that  he  is  not  inclined  to  enter  into  any  very 
personal  conversation  with  her.  It  would  not  do  any 
good  if  he  should." 

"  Ah,"  said  Mrs.  Whately,  "  does  Miss  Bemis  allow  her- 
self to  speak  hard  of  Mr.  Eldridge?  I  should  think, 
from  the  manner  in  which  she  treats  him  this  evening,  that 
she  was  one  of  his  warmest  friends." 

"I  told  you,  you  recollect,"  said  Mrs.  Davidson,  "that 
she  loves  to  be  noticed  by  the  clergy.  She  would  be 
much  flattered  if  they  would  notice  her  enough  to  follow 
her  dictations.  She  prides  herself  so  much  on  her  knowl- 
edge of  ministerial  duties  as  qualifies  her,  in  her  own 
opinion,  to  give  ministers  important'instructions." 

"  She  is  a  sort  of  ministerial  supervisor,  I  should  think, 
from  what  you  say,"  said  Mrs.  Whately,  "  and  church  m-em- 
bers'  guide." 

"  I  never  heard  her  called  by  such  title,"  Mrs.  Davidson 
replied.  "  If  should  be  added, '  and  advisor  or  guardian  of 
the  ministers  wife,'  the  title  would  be  more  complete,  and 
would  well  apply  to  Miss  Bemis.  A  minister  and  his 
family  must  walk  on  her  line,  or  be  reported  in  no  very 
measured  terms  as  extremely  delinquent." 

As  this  last  remark  was  finished,  Mrs.  Durant,  from 
another  town,  approached  the  two  ladies  and  seated  her- 
self, saying  she  thought  they  ought  not  to  engross  so  much 
of  each  other's  society. 

"  We  are  very  happy  to  have  your  company,"  said  Mrs. 
Davidson  ;  "  for  we  are  talking  just  now  on  a  subject  that 
has  interested  you,  I  believe." 

"  What  is  that  ?  "  inquired  Mrs.  Durant. 

"You  may  remember,"  said  Mrs.  Davidson,  "when  my 
husband  and  myself  spent  an  afternoon  with  you  last 


MISS  BEMIS.  157 

spring,  your  conversation  with  me  about  Miss  Simons,  of 
your  parish." 

"  0,  yes,"  said  Mrs.  Durant ;  "  but  you  have  not  been 
talking  about  her  this  evening,  have  you?" 

"  We  have  not  been  talking  about  her"  said  Mrs.  David- 
son, "  but  we  have  about  one  like  her" 

"  You  have  no  such  character  over  here,  I  hope,"  said 
Mrs.  Durant,  with  great  feeling. 

"  I  rather  think,"  Mrs.  Davidson  replied,  "  your  place  is 
not  peculiar  for  having  these  ministerial  supervisors,  as 
Mrs.  Whately  calls  them." 

Mrs.  Durant,  laughing  heartily  at  this  apt  denomination 
of  character,  remarked  "  that  her  friend  was  peculiarly 
fortunate  in  her  title  for  such  individuals.  They  are  very 
troublesome,  very  mischievous,  persons.  They  are  so  an- 
noying to  ministers  and  their  wives,  and  so  very  meddle- 
some in  what  does  not  concern  them,  that  I  have  no  sort 
of  patience  with  them.  I  really  believe  they  occasion 
more  uneasiness  in  parishes  than  almost  any  other  cause 
of  trouble,  and  are  oftener  the  primary  instruments  in  the 
dismission  of  ministers  than  is  usually  imagined." 

"  You  are  excited,"  Mrs.  Whately  remarked. 

"  I  know  I  am"  said  Mrs.  Durant.  "  As  I  said,  I  have 
no  patience  with  these  meddling  sort  of  folks,  who  are 
eternally  prying  into  a  minister's  affairs  and  constantly 
deserting  him,  and  who  are  running  hither  and  thither 
about  the  parish  with  the  news  they  pick  up  in  regard  to 
the  minister  and  his  wife  or  children,  making  a  mountain 
often  out  of  nothing.  I  have  seen  so  much  evil  brought 
about  by  these  individuals  that  I  hold  them  an  intolerable 
nuisance.  Has  Mrs.  Davidson  been  saying  any  thing  to 
you,  Mrs.  Whately,  of  our  Miss  Simons." 

"  She  has  not.  I  have  never  heard  of  her  before,"  Mrs. 
Whately  replied. 

"Well,"  continued  Mrs.  Durant,  "she  occasions  a  good 
14 


158  A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

deal  of  commotion  among  us,  I  assure  you.  She  might 
not  be  taken  to  be  such  a  character  on  a  slight  acquaint- 
ance, being  of  a  retiring  habit  and  not  very  talkative  ; 
but  then  it  is  in  her  to  do  vast  mischief  in  a  parish.  I 
have  no  doubt  she  is  a  pious  woman,  and  is  really  anxious 
to  have  the  cause  of  Christ  prosper ;  but  she  is  so  con- 
tracted in  her  views  as  to  be  a  very  incompetent  judge  of 
many  things  pertaining  to  the  conduct  of  ministers  or 
of  the  members  of  the  church  ;  yet  with  a  certain  class 
she  has  great  influence,  and  she  excites  them  often  to 
dangerous  action.  They  hear  Miss  Simons's  stories  about 
the  minister  and  some  prominent  members  of  the  church, 
and  forthwith  report  all  over  the  parish  ;  and  in  this  way 
we  have  every  now  and  then  quite  an  explosion." 

"  How  does  Miss  Simons  collect  her  materials  for  stir- 
ring up  such  a  strife  ?  "  Mrs.  Whately  inquired. 

"  0,  she  visits  at  our  minister's  considerably,"  Mrs.  Du- 
rant  replied,  "  and  is  abroad  among  the  people  very  much. 
It  puzzles  me  to  account  for  her  conduct  when  she  is  so 
retiring  in  her  manners  and  not  a  very  great  talker.  If 
she  was  a  great  talker  I  could  well  reconcile  her  conduct. 
When  she  visits  the  people  treat  her  with  much  attention, 
but  many  of  them  are  very  careful  not  to  give  her  any 
occasion  to  talk.  She,  however,  makes  occasion.  A  half 
hour  in  our  parsonage  often  gives  her  material  for  accom- 
plishing a  great  deal.  Sometimes  she  finds  the  minister, 
when  she  calls  at  his  house,  looking,  as  she  says,  rather 
slovenly  —  by  that  we  understand  that  he  is  not  dressed 
for  the  pulpit  or  a  wedding.  So  the  report  goes  round 
that  Mr.  Plummer  is  a  sloven.  Sometimes  she  finds  him 
holding  the  baby  whilst  his  wife  is  in  another  room  en- 
gaged in  some  necessary  avocation  ;  and  then  we  hear  that 
Mr.  Plummer  don't  study  —  that  his  wife  prevents  him. 
Sometimes  Mrs.  Plummer  and  the  children  are  the  subjects 
of  her  remark  for  not  being  exactly  in  that  trim  in  which 


MISS  BEMIS.  159 

she  thinks  they  ought  to  be ;  and  then  we  hear  that  Mr. 
Plummer  ought  to  be  ashamed  of  himself  for  not  providing 
his  wife  with  help,  so  that  she  may  keep  herself  and  family 
looking  decent.  She  don't  consider  that  our  people  only 
give  the  minister  but  a  little  more  than  four  hundred  dol- 
lars a  year,  and  that  he  finds  it  very  difficult  to  get  the 
necessaries  of  life.  In  this  way  you  can  easily  see  how 
much  evil  she  may  do.  She  thinks  a  minister  ought  never 
to  say  any  thing  only  on  the  subject  of  religion,  and  ought 
always  to  be  as  solemn  as  if  he  were  at  a  prayer  meeting." 

"  It  is  not  at  all  surprising,  if  Miss  Simons  has  any  in- 
fluence, that  she  should  occasion  much  trouble  in  a  parish," 
Mrs.  Whately  observed. 

"As  I  said,"  Mrs.  Durant  replied,  "there  are  some  who 
are  disposed  to  think  considerable  of  Miss  Simons ;  and 
then,  you  know,  nowadays  people  don't  stop  to  consider. 
If  they  hear  any  thing  about  a  minister  or  his  wife  that  is 
to  their  disadvantage,  they  are  ready  to  believe  it  all  true 
and  to  herald  it  forth  far  and  near.  Last  fall  our  minis- 
ter, not  having  much  for  his  horse  to  do,  and  being  willing 
to  avail  himself  of  the  earnings  of  the  animal,  let  him  to 
a  friend  to  go  on  a  journey.  As  it  was  something  unusual 
for  the  minister  to  be  without  a  horse,  Miss  Simons  con- 
jured up  the  idea  that  the  horse  and  minister's  chaise 
had  been  taken  for  debt.  This  intelligence  was  spread 
about  as  a  fact,  both  in  and  out  of  the  parish,  to  the  dis- 
credit of  the  minister.  He  came  to  know  of  the  report 
by  his  being  called  upon  one  day  by  one  of,  his  friends  to 
inquire  of  him  if  he  wished  to  purchase  a  horse.  The 
minister  was  surprised  at  the  question,  and  remarked  that 
he  had  one  horse,  and  a  very  good  one  too,  and  did  not 
wish  for  another.  '  Why,'  said  the  friend,  '  I  thought  you 
had  no  horse.  I  heard  that  you  had  been  obliged  to  part 
with  him.  Miss  Simons  and  some  of  her  brothers  have 
reported  such  a  story,  and  I  really  thought  it  was  a  fact. 


160  A  VOICE   FROM  THE    PARSONAGE. 

I  supposed  that  you  could  not  well  do  without  a  horse, 
and  so  I  called  to  sell  you  mine.'  The  minister  felt  very 
much  hurt  by  this  species  of  intelligence  ;  and,  on  inquiry, 
he  traced  it  back  to  Miss  Simons  and  her  bachelor  broth- 
ers. They  did  not  know  why  the  minister's  horse  was 
away  ;  and  being  disposed  to  have  a  reason  for  all  his  con- 
duct, if  they  are  not  in  possession  of  the  true  one,  they 
will  manufacture  one  to  suit  them." 

"  These  characters  are  really  very  vexatious  and  tro.uble- 
some,"  said  Mrs.  Davidson. 

"  Yes,  they  are,"  replied  Mrs.  Durant.  "  Our  minister 
has  lately  been  dismissed,  you  know  ;  and  the  trouble  with 
him  all  arose  from  this  meddlesome  Miss  Simons  and  her 
brothers.  She  was  at  the  bottom  of  it.  They  would  re- 
port stories  of  no  better  foundation  than  the  one  I  just 
told  you  about  the  minister's  horse  ;  and  these  were  spread 
and  believed,  and  a, prejudice  excited  which  resulted  in 
the  conviction  on  the  part  of  many  that  it  would  be  better 
for  the  parish  to  have  another  minister." 

"It  is  strange  people  will  allow  themselves  to  be  influ- 
enced as  they  are  in  matters  relating  to  a  minister,"  Mrs. 
Davidson  observed.  "  I  cannot  see  why  they  should  be- 
lieve every  thing  said  to  a  minister's  disadvantage,  as 
some  are  disposed  to  do.  If  all  felt  as  I  do,  Miss  Bemis 
and  Miss  Simons,  and  others  like  them,  would  have  but 
small  encouragement  to  pry  into  a  minister's  affairs  and 
report  the  result  of  their  officious  meddling  among  the 
parish." 

"  I  wish,"  said  Mrs.  Durant,  "  there  were  more  like  you, 
Mrs.  Davidson,  who  can  appreciate  the  peculiar  situation 
of  a  pastor  and  his  family,  and  who  have  candor  and  com- 
mon sense  to  influence  them  in  their  judgment.  If  such 
were  the  case,  there  would  be  fewer  difficulties  in  our 
parishes." 

"I  thank  you,  Mrs.  Durant,  for  your  good  opinion," 


'MISS    BEMIS.  '  161 

Mrs.  Davidson  said,  "  and  I  hope  I  may  ever  have  the 
character  you  give  me.  I  cannot  endure  these  persons 
who  are  forever  making  trouble  in  parishes  with  the  min- 
ister." 

"  I  wish  there  was  some  way/'  said  Mrs.  Durant,  "  to 
prevent  such  characters  as  Miss  Bemis  from  doing  so  much 
mischief." 

"I  wish  so,  too,"  said  Mrs.  Davidson,  "with  all  my 
heart.  The  only  way  I  think  of  is,  not  to  listen  to  them." 

"But  then,  you  know,  there  are  always  to  be  found 
those  who  are  disposed  to  give  an  ear  to  the  gossip  of  a 
Miss  Bemis,  to  swallow  all  her  perversions,  and  wonder 
with  her  at  all  the  fancied  inconsistencies  of  ministers 
and  their  wives,  and " 

The   sentence  was  not  finished  ;   for  Miss  Bemis  was 
seen  approaching  the  circle,  and  was  soon  seated  near 
Mrs.  Davidson  and  her  friends. 
14* 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

AN  OLD  PARISH  DEBT. 

MR.  ELDRIDGE  had  been  out  all  the  afternoon  making 
pastoral  calls,  and  returned  home  about  the  hour  for  tea 
in  most  excellent  spirits,  from  the  reflection  upon  the  pros- 
perous condition  of  the  parish  and  the  many  expressions 
of  strong  attachment  of  his  people  to  their  pastor.  After 
removing  his  boots,  and  putting  on  slippers,  and  exchan- 
ging his  coat  for  his  study  gown,  he  seated  himself  near  his 
wife,  who  was  sewing  by  the  window,  and  remarked,  — 

"  How  I  wish  that  old  parish  debt  was  paid !  If  that  was 
only  out  of  the  way,  I  should  be  comparatively  happy." 

"  You  can't  bear  debt,  can  you,  husband  ? "  his  wife 
replied. 

"  No,  I  cannot ;  and  especially  when  there  is  not  the 
least  cause  for  it." 

"  Why  don't  the  people  pay  this  debt  ?  "  Mrs.  Eldridge 
inquired. 

"  There  are  many  who  are  very  anxious  to  have  it  paid, 
and  I  suppose  all  would  feel  better  if  it  were  settled  ;  but, 
then,  there  is  a  difference  in  opinion  as  to  the  best  way  of 
paying  it,"  Mr.  Eldridge  replied. 

"  I  should  think  a  part  of  the  fund  might  be  taken  for 
this  purpose,"  Mrs.  Eldridge  suggested. 

'.'  Some  individuals  wish  to  do  this,"  Mr.  Eldridge  said  ; 
"  but  there  are  more  who  think  it  would  be  the  wiser  way 

(162) 


AN  OLD   PARISH  DEBT.  163 

io  have  the  debt  paid  by  a  tax.  I  have  been  thinking 
that  I  must  bring  up  the  subject  in  my  next  anniversary 
discourse,  the  time  for  preaching  which  is  now  near.  It 
is  eleven  years  since  I  have  been  here,  and  this  debt  has 
been  the  cause  of  no  little  vexation  to  many  of  the  parish 
and  of  trouble  to  me.  I  have  conversed  privately  with 
different  individuals  upon  the  importance  of  having  this 
matter  adjusted  until  I  have  become  discouraged.  I  think, 
if  I  should  lay  myself  out  and  preach  a  strong  sermon 
upon  the  subject,  something  might  be  accomplished." 

"  I  do  not  know  about  this,"  said  his  wife,  thoughtfully. 
"  It  is  a  delicate  subject,  and  perhaps  some  might  take  ex- 
ceptions to  your  course,  and  the  consequence  might  be  a 
difficulty  which  might  end  in  your  dismission" 

"  Well,  what  if  it  should  ?"  Mr.  Eldridge  replied,  with 
energy.  "I  cannot  help  it.  This  debt  is  a  hinderance  to 
the  prosperity  of  the  parish  ;  it  has  occasioned  hard  feel- 
ing at  times  among  the  people.  It  can  be  paid  ;  all  would 
be  glad  if  it  were  paid  ;  and  it  must  be  paid.  I  rather 
think  it  is  my  duty  to  preach  on  the  subject." 

In  about  a  month  from  this  period  the  anniversary  dis- 
course was  preached,  and  was  heard,  too,  by  all  the  large 
assembly.  Seldom  had  the  pastor  equalled  this  pulpit 
effort,  and  never,  perhaps,  were  the  people  more  disposed 
to  remark  on  a  sermon.  On  the  afternoon  next  after  its 
delivery  Mr.  Eldridge  was  out  calling  on  his  people,  and 
was  surprised  to  discover  what  a  deep  impression  his  ser- 
mon on  the  previous  day  had  made.  He  was,  moreover, 
highly  gratified  in  hearing  the  importance  of  its  subject  so 
generally  commended  and  in  noticing  how  general  was 
the  disposition  to  attack  at  once  the  old  parish  debt  and 
annihilate  it.  In  passing  from  one  house  on  his  way  to 
another  he  met  Mr.  Osgood,  whoso  conversion  in  the 
early  part  of  his  ministry  was  alluded  to  in  a  previous 
chapter.  Though  somewhat  bowed  down  with  age,  yet  he 


164         A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

held  on  to  his  first  love  with  enthusiastic  ardor.  Ever 
alive  to  what  enters  into  the  welfare  of  the  church  and 
success  and  happiness  of  the  pastor,  as  soon  as  the  com- 
mon salutations  were  over  Mr.  Osgood  remarked,  — 

"  They  say  you  preached  a  great  discourse  yesterday, 
Mr.  Eldridge  —  a  great  discourse.  I  was  glad  to  hear 
about  it.  I  wish  I  had  been  to  meeting  ;  but  I  had  to 
stay  at  home  to  let  my  wife  go." 

"  I  noticed  you  were  not  present,"  the  pastor  replied. 

"  One  of  us,"  continued  Mr.  Osgood,  "  must  stay  at 
home  with  our  poor  sick  daughter,  you  know ;  and  I 
staid  yesterday  ;  but  I  reckon  I  have  heard  about  all  you 
said.  My  wife  told  me  a  great  deal ;  and  then  almost 
every  one  I  have  seen  to-day  has  been  talking  about  it.  I 
rather  guess  they'll  pay  off  the  old  debt  now." 

"  I  hope  they  will,  most  certainly,"  said  the  pastor.  "  It 
ought  to  have  been  paid  years  ago." 

"  Yes,  yes  ;  it  ought,"  Mr.  Osgood  acquiesced  ;  "  but 
then,  you  know,  the  money  was  not  wanted.  The  man  who 
holds  the  note  is  satisfied  to  have  the  parish  owe  him,  for 
he  feels  that  his  money  is  safe.  Colonel  Presbury  likes  to 
have  his  property  secure,  you  know." 

"  I  had  rather  our  parish  would  not  be  in  debt,"  Mr. 
Eldridge  continued,  "  as  there  is  not  the  least  reason  for 
it.  If  Colonel  Presbury  don't  want  his  money,  he  can 
easily  invest  it  elsewhere.  I  don't  like  to  have  any  one 
with  whom  I  am  connected  in  debt,  Mr.  Osgood." 

"  I  know,"  said  the  old  gentleman,  "  you  don't  like  debt, 
Mr.  Eldridge,  and  the  people  know  it  too  ;  and  they  are 
all  glad  that  you  keep  out  of  debt.  You  were  just  the 
man  to  preach  such  a  sermon  as  you  did  yesterday.  I 
guess  you'll  make  them  pay  the  parish  debt.  If  they  do, 
they  will  all  be  glad  of  it ;  for  they  have  been  saying 
these  twenty  years  or  more  that  it  ought  to  be  paid." 

Passing  on,  Mr.  Eldridge  next  called  on  widow  Rich- 


AN  OLD  PARISH   DEBT.  165 

ards,  a  very  worthy  member  of  his  church,  though  in  the 
humbler  walks  of  life.  She  was  a  tenant  of  Col.  Pres- 
bury,  who  lived  in  a  large  house  near  by.  The  pastor 
had  not  long  been  seated  before  the  good  lady  began 
about  the  sermon  of  yesterday,  and  'observed,  — 

"  I  was  very  glad  to  hear  you  preach  about  the  parish 
debt,  Mr.  Eldridge.  As  long  as  the  people  are  able  to 
pay  it  off,  I  think  they  ought  to  do  so." 

"  Certainly,"  said  the  pastor  ;  "  and  I  trust  they  will 
shortly  do  so." 

"  I  rather  think  they  will,"  Mrs.  Richards  replied. 
"  Colonel  Presbury  told  me  this  morning,  when  I  was  in 
to  pay  ray  quarter's  rent,  that  he  supposed  the  people 
would  rally  now  and  do  something.  The  colonel  was  in 
favor  of  having  it  paid  if  the  money  was  wanted  ;  but  he 
said  that  was  not  the  case.  He  said  he  did  not  want  the 
money,  and  that  it  would  do  no  harm  to  let  the  thing  re- 
main as  it  now  stands  ;  but  he  said  he  supposed  the  people 
would  pay  it  off." 

"  Did  he  say  how  he  thought  it  ought  to  be  paid  ?  "  Mr. 
Eldridge  inquired. 

"  He  said  that,  if  the  people  concluded  to  pay  it,  he 
thought  the  best  way  would  be  to  use  part  of  the  fund  ; . 
but  he  said  he  was  afraid  they  would  resort  to  taxation. 
That  he  would  not  like,  you  know.  His  tax  would  amount 
to  something." 

"  The  colonel  is  able  to  pay  a  good  tax,"  the  pastor  ob- 
served. "  Where  the  Lord  gives  property,  there  ought  to 
be  a  disposition  to  do  what  is  right.  I  hope  the  colonel 
will  be  ready  to  come  in  with  the  wishes  of  the  majority." 

"But  he  won't,  sir,  if  they  make  a  tax.  He  will  never 
get  over  it.  I  know  him  well,  for  I  have  lived  by  the  side 
of  him  these  forty  years.  He  loves  his  money,  sir,  better 
than  any  thing  besides." 

Finishing  his  visit  here,  the  pastor  directed  his  steps 


166         A  VOICE  FEOM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

homeward.  As  he  entered  his  house  he  heard  busy  con- 
versation in  the  parlor  ;  and  as  he  stood  in  the  hall,  lay- 
ing aside  his  hat,  <fcc.,  he  overheard  the  remark  from  one, 
"  I  was  truly  rejoiced  to  hear  him  preach  so  yesterday." 
And  thus  the  pastor  was  made  to  know  that  his  sermon 
of  the  day  previous  was  the  theme  of  conversation.  He 
had  scarcely  been  seated  before  Mrs.  McKay  observed,  — 

"  We  have  been  talking  about  your  '  debt  sermon?  Mr. 
Eldridge." 

"  Ah,"  said  the  pastor  with  a  smile.  "  I  have  not  heard 
that  my  sermon  had  been  named." 

"  0,  yes,  it  has,"  said  Mrs.  Morrison  ;  "  I  have  heard  a 
number  of  individuals  to-day  speak  of  Mr.  Eldridge's 
debt  sermon." 

"  "Well,  I  hope  none  take  exceptions  to  the  discourse," 
the  pastor  said. 

"No  —  no,  sir  ;  it  was  a  very  popular  discourse,"  Mrs. 
McKay  remarked.  "  All  liked  it  very  much  indeed.  My 
husband  thinks  it  will  do  good  in  more  ways  than  one. 
He  thinks  it  will  not  only  be  the  means  of  paying  the 
parish  debt,  but  likewise  of  inducing  sundry  delinquent 
debtors  about,  who  have  almost  exhausted  the  patience 
of  their  creditors,  to  consider  of  their  obligations  and  at 
once  '  square  up.' " 

"  Well,"  said  Mrs.  Cummings,  a  friend  of  Mrs.  Morri- 
son from  another  town,  "  if  the  sermon  can  have  such  an 
effect,  I  wish  Mr.  Eldridge  might  preach  it  to  our  people. 
We  have  some  among  us  who  need  a  little  quickening  upon 
the  duty  of  paying  their  debts,  particularly  our  deacon. 
He  is  very  negligent  in  this  respect,  and  has  brought  the 
office  into  great  disrepute  by  not  paying  what  he  owes 
when  it  is  in  his  power  to  do  so.  He  can  have  every  thing 
for  himself  and  his  children  which  is  desired  by  either  ; 
but  when  any  of  his  creditors  call  they  must  be  put  off." 

"  That  is  a  sad  case,"  said  Mr.  Eldridge.     "  I  should  be 


AN   OLD  PARISH  DEBT.  167 

much  tried  if  one  of  our  deacons  should  have  this  char- 
acter." 

"  Yes,"  said  Mrs.  Cummings ;  "  I  presume  you  would, 
Mr.  Eldridge.  Almost  any  minister,  or,  indeed,  any  indi- 
vidual, would  be  tried  to  have  a  deacon  owe  almost  every 
body  when  he  practised  no  self-denial.  Our  deacon  can 
have  the  best  carriage  in  the  parish,  and  can  dress  his 
children  in  the  height  of  fashion  ;  but  he  cannot  pay  his 
debts.  He  did  not  act  thus  when  his  first  wife  was 
alive." 

"  Well,"  said  Mr.  Eldridge,  "  if  my  sermon  of  yesterday 
answers  a  double  purpose,  as  you  intimate,  Mrs.  McKay,  it 
will  accomplish  more  than  I  designed.  I  shall  indeed  be 
highly  gratified  if  it  will  be  instrumental  in  rousing  the 
parish  to  pay  off  its  debt  ;  and  if  delinquent  debtors  are  ex- 
cited to  do  justly,  so  much  the  better" 

"  I  wonder  our  people  have  suffered  this  debt  to  remain 
so  long,"  said  Mrs.  Morrison.  "  It  has  been  standing  more 
than  fifty  years  I  am  told." 

"  You  know,"  said  Mrs.  McKay,  "  the  people  have  often 
talked  of  paying  it.  No  one  has  before  taken  up  the 
matter  in  earnest,  and  commended  the  importance  of  hav- 
ing it  cancelled,  and  got  the  public  attention  seriously 
turned  towards  the  debt.  I  rather  think  now  six  months 
will  not  pass  before  the  debt  will  be  paid." 

"  I  hope  they  will  make  a  tax  to  liquidate  this  debt," 
said  Mrs.  Morrison,  "  and  not  disturb  the  fund." 

"  That  would  suit  the  greater  part  of  the  people  best,  I 
dare  say,"  Mrs.  McKay  observed  ;  "  but  some  would  be 
highly  incensed  should  a  tax  be  levied  for  this  purpose." 

"  Not  many,"  Mrs.  Morrison  replied.  "  We  were  speak- 
ing on  the  subject  at  dinner  to-day,  and  my  husband  said 
he  did  not  believe  there  would  be  more  than  four  or  five 
who  would  be  strenuous  for  taking  any  portion  of  the  fund 
to  settle  this  debt." 


168  A  VOICE  FEOM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

"  Did  lie  say  who  the  four  or  five  individuals  were  ?  " 
Mr.  Eldridge  inquired. 

"  He  mentioned  Colonel  Presbury,  Mr.  Benson,  Mr. 
Otis,"  Mrs.  Morrison  said. 

"  These  gentlemen  have  some  influence,"  Mr.  Eldridge 
observed,  "  and  of  course  their  feelings  will  be  regarded." 

"  I  don't  believe  they  can  prevent  the  majority  doing 
as  they  please,  however,"  said  Mrs.  Morrison,  with  much 
feeling.  "  I  think  there  are  a  good  many  who  would  vote 
for  a  tax  the  sooner,  if  they  thought  Colonel  Presbury  and 
Mr.  Benson  were  opposed  to  it." 

"  That  would  be  wrong,  would  it  not  ?  "  said  the  pastor. 

"I  suppose  it  would,"  Mrs.  Morrison  replied;  "but  hu- 
man nature  will  out  with  itself,  you  know,  sometimes." 

"  Yes,"  said  the  pastor ;  "  and  the  exhibition  is  often 
very  odious,  you  know.  I  really  hope  there  are  none  among 
us  who  would  vote  for  a  tax  merely  to  oppose  the  gentle- 
men who  have  been  just  named." 

"Perhaps  that  would  not  be  all  the  motive,"  said 
Mrs.  Morrison.  "  I  really  hope,  however,  they  will  soon 
have  a  parish  meeting  and  vote  to  pay  off  this  old  debt 
by  a  tax  ;  for  I  think  the  prosperity  of  the  parish  would 
in  this  way  be  best  promoted." 

After  their  visitors  had  left,  and  as  the  pastor  and  his 
wife  were  alone,  the  latter  remarked, — 

"  Your  sermon  yesterday  will  be  remembered,  I  think, 
husband.  There  have  been  several  ladies  in  this  after- 
noon before  those  who  have  just  gone  came,  who  had  a 
great  deal  to  say  about  your  preaching  yesterday." 

"  Who  have  been  in,  my  dear  ?  " 

"  Mrs.  Smith,  Mrs.  Barnes,  Mrs.  Thorndike,  Miss  Gill, 
Mrs.  Lovell,  and  Miss  Bemis." 

"  You  have,  indeed,  been  highly  favored,  I  think.  Did 
they  all  speak  of  the  sermon  ?  " 

"  I  believe  they  all  did  but  Mrs.  Barnes.     She  was  take* 


AN  OLD  PARISH  DEBT.  169 

up  in  telling  me  about  her  sister,  who  lately  died,  you 
know.  All  the  other  ladies  had  much  to  say  about  the 
parish  debt  and  your  sermon." 

"  What  did  Miss  Bemis  say  about  it  ?  " 

"She  called  with  Mrs.  Lovell.  Mrs.  Lovell  was  de 
lighted  that  you  took  up  the  subject  and  was  highly 
pleased  with  your  manner  of  treating  it.  Miss  Bemis 
said  that  she  was,  but  that  she  thought  it  would  have 
been  wiser  to  have  preached  it  on  a  fast  or  thanksgiving 
occasion  rather  than  on  the  Sabbath." 

"  Of  course,"  said  Mr.  Eldridge,  dryly  ;  "  and  if  I  had 
preached  it  on  either  of  these  days,  it  would  have  been 
wiser  to  have  preached  it  at  some  other  time  ;  or,  if  not, 
to  have  not  preached  at  all.  Well,  wife,  it  is  my  opinion 
that  all  the  people  heard  my  sermon  yesterday,  and,  as 
you  say,  that  it  will  not  soon  be  forgotten.  I  never 
preached  a  sermon  that  I  have  heard  so  much  about  as  I 
have  of  this.  I  met  fifteen  or  twenty  individuals  whilst  I 
was  out  this  afternoon,  and  I  believe  every  one  of  them 
had  more  or  less  to  say  about  the  parish  debt  and  my  ser- 
mon yesterday.  I  think  all  this  talk  will  lead  to  some 
action,  and  that  soon  the  old  parish  debt  will  live  only  in 
memory." 

The  ruling  subject  throughout  the  parish  for  several 
days  continued  to  be  the  parish  debt.  The  pastor  was 
gratified  to  learn  before  the  week  was  out  that  there 
would  be  a  warrant  up  on  the  next  Sabbath  for  a  parish 
meeting,  "  to  see  whether  the  parish  will  take  any  action 
in  relation  to  the  parish  debt."  The  meeting  was  accord- 
ingly held  and  most  numerously  attended  by  an  interested 
company  of  voters  and  others.  There  seemed  to  be  a 
general  feeling  that,  all  things  considered,  it  would  be  for 
the  interest  of  the  parish  if  its  debt  was  paid.  When, 
however,  the  question  came,  How  shall  the  debt  be  paid  ? 
there  was  more  division  of  sentiment.  Mr.  Benson 
15 


170  A  VOICE  FROM  THE   PARSONAGE. 

advanced  the  policy  of  paying  the  debt  from  the  fund. 
Colonel  Presbury  sympathized  in  feeling  with  Mr.  Benson 
and  waxed  warm  in  a  speech  on  the  matter.  Mr.  Dixon, 
a  merchant  of  the  place,  sided  in  very  warmly  with  the 
colonel.  Against  this  policy  there  was  very  strong  oppo- 
sition from  a  large  number  of  individuals  ;  and  when  the 
motion  to  pay  the  debt  from  the  fund  was  put.  it  was  de- 
cided in  the  negative  by  a  very  large  majority.  Mr. 
Clay  then  moved  that  the  debt  be  paid  with  money  raised 
by  a  tax  ;  and  after  a  long  and  very  spirited  debate  the 
motion  prevailed,  there  being  not  more  than  seven  or 
eight  out  of  some  one  hundred  and  fifty  voters  whose 
hands  were  raised  in  opposition. 

»  In  about  two  weeks  from  the  period  at  which  this  parish 
meeting  was  held,  some  six  or  seven  gentlemen  called  on 
the  pastor.  Squire  Davidson,  Mr.  Morrison,  Mr.  Clay, 
and  Deacon  Smith  were  of  the  number.  They  proved  to 
be  a  delegation  from  a  large  portion  of  Mr.  Eldridge's 
parish  to  convey  to  him  some  expressions  of  gratitude  for 
his  agency  in  the  matter  of  liquidating  the  parish  debt. 
The  squire  was  appointed  to  take  the  lead  in  the  premises  ; 
and  he  acquitted  himself,  as  few  could  have  done,  well  and 
handsomely.  In  his  address  he  touched  upon  many  things 
in  the  history  of  the  pastor  which  could  not  have  failed  to 
produce  in  the  breast  of  that  worthy  man  the  most  pleas- 
urable emotions.  In  closing,  the  squire  remarked,  "  For 
your  interest  in  this  important  matter,  reverend  sir,  your 
friends,  •«  hich  appear  to  be  almost  the  entire  people,  have 
raised  the  sum  of  one  hundred  dollars,  which  I  now  have 
the  happiness  of  tendering  to  you."  As  such  a  delegation 
for  such  a  purpose  had  not,  in  any  breeze  nor  by  any 
tongue,  been  intimated  to  the  pastor,  he  was  taken  by 
storm,  and  for  a  moment  utterance  failed  him  in  his  at- 
tempts to  conquer  the  tempest  of  feeling  which  was  raging 
within  him.  However,  but  a  moment  thus  bound  the 


AN  OLD   PARISH   1)EBT.  171 

gratitude  of  his  heart ;  for  he  soon  spoke  forth  manly  sen- 
timents, grateful  words,  thanking  heartily  his  people  for 
their  abiding  interest  in  himself.  He  was  particularly 
grateful  for  the  evidence  borne  by  the  present  interview 
with  their  delegation,  of  the  unanimous  satisfaction  expe- 
rienced in  the  parish  at  the  extinguishment  of  the  debt 
which  had  troubled  him  so  much,  and  been  no  inconsider- 
able source  of  disquietude,  at  times,  in  the  parish. 

Whether  the  few  opposed  to  the  tax  were  aware  of  this 
expression  of  feeling  in  the  many,  none  could  then  tell. 
That  one  of  these  few  laid  the  tax  heavily  to  heart,  think- 
ing of  it  by  night  and  meditating  on  it  by  day,  thus  allow- 
ing it  corroding  power  for  years  before  its  development 
to  the  world,  may  appear  by  and  by. 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

SQUIRE  DAVIDSON   A  DELEGATE  TO   A   COUNCIL. 

"  ARE  you  any  acquainted  with  Mr.  Hanly,  father,  or 
any  of  his  people  ?  "  asked  Frances  of  Squire  Davidson. 

"  I  believe  I  met  him  once,  daughter,  at  a  council  some- 
where ;  but  I  do  not  now  remember  where.  I  do  not 
know  as  I-  am  acquainted  with  any  of  his  people." 

"  I  thought  such  might  be  the  case,  as  in  the  letter  mis- 
sive it  was  requested  that  you  might  be  appointed  dele- 
gate from  our  church  to  the  council  for  his  dismission." 

"  I  presume  some  of  the  people  or  Mr.  Hanly  may  know 
something  of  me,  as  I  have  been  on  a  large  number  of 
councils,  you  know,"  the  father  continued.  "  I  am  afraid 
that  I  shall  be  under  the  necessity  of  going  alone,  as  Mr. 
Eldridge  will  probably  think  it  his  duty  to  remain  at 
home." 

"  What  is  the  matter,  husband,  that  Mr.  Eldridge  can- 
not go  ?  " 

"•  I  saw  him  this  morning,"  said  the  squire,  "  and  he  told 
me  that  he  felt  afraid  his  little  Henry  was  going  to  be 
sick,  and  that,  if  he  were  no  better  in  the  morning,  he 
should  not  go  to  the  council." 

"  I  am  sorry  to  hear  that  he  has  more  sickness  in  his 
family,"  Mrs.  Davidson  said.  "  I  hope  the  dear  little  boy 
will  not  be  sick." 

Early  the  next  morning  Mr.  Eldridge  called  on  the 

(172) 


SQUIRE  DAVIDSON   A   DELEGATE  TO  A   COUNCIL.       173 

squire  and  informed  him  that  the  illness  of  his  son  had 
increased,  and  consequently  that  it  would  not  be  consis- 
tent for  him  to  leave  town. 

"  What  need  is  there  of  your  going,  husband  ?  "  Mrs. 
Davidson  inquired,  after  Mr.  Eldridge  had  left.  "  As  the 
distance  is  great  and  the  people  are  strangers  to  you,  I 
would  not  go.  I  don't  see  why  they  sent  so  far  for  a 
council.  It  is  upwards  of  fifty  miles  from  here,  is  it  not  ?  " 

<;  Yes,  dear,"  the  husband  replied  ;  "  it  is  upwards  of 
sixty,  I  believe.  As  Mr.  Hanly  and  his  church  have  sent 
to  our  church,  and  as  I  have  been  chosen  a  delegate,  I 
feel  that  I  ought  to  go  ;  and  I  must  start  this  afternoon, 
too,  by  one  o'clock,  or  I  shall  not  be  there  to-morrow  in 
season." 

The  squire  accordingly  set  off  ;  and  the  next  day,  after 
a  long  ride  in  his  own  carriage,  he  found  himself  with 
others  in  council  for  the  dismission  of  Mr.  Hanly.  This 
ecclesiastical  body  he  soon  discovered  was  composed  of 
pastors  and  delegates  of  no  ordinary  discernment,  wis- 
dom, and  piety  ;  and  the  squire  felt  himself  happy  in  the 
reflection  on  their  capacity  to  act  as  valuable  advisers  in 
the  case  now  before  them. 

It  appeared  from  the  documents  submitted  that  Mr. 
Hanly  had  been  settled  about  six  years,  and  had  been  sin- 
gularly blessed  in  his  labors  for  the  conversion  of  the  im- 
penitent and  for  the  general  welfare  of  his  people.  His 
efforts  for  the  younger  portion  of  his  flock  had  been 
blessed  to  the  advancement  of  this  important  part  of  his 
charge  in  every  thing  which  tended  to  their  increased 
promise  and  worth.  It  appeared,  likewise,  that  Mr.  Han- 
ly had  a  young  and  rising  family  about  him,  and  that  he 
was  not  apprised  of  there  being  any  necessity  for  his 
seeking  another  parish  until  about  three  months  anterior 
to  the  session  of  this  council.  Indeed,  he  almost  felt  as- 
sured, from  the  many  expressions,  not  only  from  leading 
15* 


174  A  VOICE  FKOM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

individuals  in  his  society,  but  from  all  classes  therein, 
which  had  been  repeated  almost  every  month,  that  he  oc- 
cupied a  deep  place  in  the  confidence  and  affections  of  his 
people,  and  that  it  would  be  no  easy  task  to  create  ani- 
mosity and  alienation  towards  him.  Being  a  young  man 
and  enthusiastic  in  his  love  for  his  chosen  profession,  he 
was  not  looking  for  any  interruption  to  his  usefulness, 
whilst  he  was  increasing  in  his  efforts  and  power  to  ren- 
der unto  his  people  more  and  more  service.  He  so  read 
that  word  of  eternal  truth  —  the  unfolding  of  which  to  his 
fellow-men  was  the  great  object  of  his  life — as  to  draw 
therefrom  the  inference,  at  no  infrequent  intervals  and  in 
no  measured  strength,  that,  if  he  was  true  to  his  God  and 
to  the  entire  people  of  his  charge,  he  had  reasonable 
ground  for  the  expectation  that  his  people  would  be  true 
to  him:  It  was,  accordingly,  his  constant  endeavor  to  be 
thus  true  ;  nor  did  any  evidence  in  the  slightest  form,  ap- 
pear in  all  that  was  said  by  the  people  before  the  council 
that  their  pastor  had  deviated  from  the  general  line  of 
true  ministerial  fidelity.  It  became,  therefore,  rather  a 
difficult  enigma  for  the  council  to  solve  how  the  useful- 
ness of  the  pastor  was  over  with  the  people  of  his  charge 
when  it  was  universally  admitted  that  he  had  labored 
faithfully,  both  in  and  out  of  the  pulpit,  during  the  entire 
period  of  his  ministry,  and  that  he  was  generally  respected 
and  beloved  throughout  the  society.  In  the  solution  of 
this  enigma  the  pastor  and  a  few  others  could  at  once 
have  rendered  important  aid  ;  but,  inasmuch  as  the 
council  had  been  called  to  consider  all  matters  superin- 
ducing the  necessity  of  the  pastor's  dismission,  he  and 
others  deemed  it  proper  for  a  time  to  stand  in  the  rear, 
to  allow  the  individuals  who  had  been  prominent  in  the 
creation  of  this  necessity  to  make  out  their  case  and  illus- 
trate their  general  reason  that  Mr.  Hanly  had  lost  his  use- 
fulness. At  almost  every  step  made  by  the  opposition  to 


SQUIRE  DAVIDSON  A   DELEGATE  TO   A   COUNCIL.       175 

the  pastor  it  was  evident  that  they  were  embarrassed  with 
the  lameness  of  their  cause ;  and  not  unfrequently  was 
there  a  strange  irritation  about  the  bronchial  region  at 
some  question  from  one  member  of  the  council  and  an- 
other, which  for  a  moment  so  choked  the  utterance  of  the 
respondents  as  to  make  it  rather  difficult  for  them  to  pro- 
ceed. However,  after  three  or  four  hours  had  been  con- 
sumed in  making  out  their  case,  the  committee  announced 
to  the  council  that  they  had  nothing  more  to  offer.  As  the 
hour  was  near  at  which  the  council  had  voted  to  adjourn 
for  tea,  it  was  voted  that  the  pastor  and  his  friends  defer 
their  statements  to  the  evening  session. 

At  the  evening  session  the  pastor  addressed  the  council 
in  a  few  sentences,  which  breathed  so  much  self-possession, 
candor,  reliance  on  rectitude  of  motive,  a  clear  conscience, 
and  of  general  trust  in  God  and  in  the  impartial  trust  in 
the  judgment  of  the  wise  and  good,  that  they  made  most 
happy  impressions  on  all  who  were  present.  He  closed 
by  saying  that  he  would  proceed  to  call  a  few  witnesses, 
from  whose  testimony  he  had  no  doubt  the  council  would 
soon  discover  —  if  he  had  lost  his  influence,  and  conse- 
quently his  usefulness  among  the  people  of  his  charge  — 
in  what  way  this  disastrous  result  had  been  accomplished. 
He  accordingly  first  called  the  name  of  a  very  prominent 
member  of  the  parish,  who  had  influence  over,  many  by  his 
extensive  wealth,  and  asked  him  if  he  would  have  the 
goodness  to  come  forward.  This  was  a  course  which  had 
not  been  anticipated.  As  the  gentleman  thus  summoned 
had  been  taken  by  surprise,  he  was  not  very  prompt  in  his 
movements  towards  the  table  of  the  scribe,  where  he  was 
requested  by  the  moderator  to  appear.  However,  at  last 
he  made  his  way  through  the  crowd  and  stood  at  the 
table,  by  the  side  of  which  Mr.  Hanly  had  his  seat.  The 
pastor  then  said,  — 

"  I  would  ask  you,  Mr.  Wilcox,  when  opposition  to  the 
pastor,  to  your  knowledge,  was  first  manifested  ?  " 


176  A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

"  I  never  heard  of  any  opposition  to  speak  of  until  last 
December,"  was  the  reply. 

"  If  there  had  been  any  before  that  period  you  would 
probably  have  known  it,  would  you  not,  sir  ?  " 

"  I  think  I  should,"  was  the  answer. 

"  Is  it  your  opinion  that  the  usefulness  of  the  pastor  in 
this  church  and  society  is  at  an  end  ?  " 

"  I  have  thought  so  for  some  time  past ;  yes,  sir." 

"  What  has  the  pastor  done  to  destroy  his  usefulness  ?  " 

"  He'm  —  he'm ;  well,  I  don't  know  as  I  can  exactly 
eay." 

"If  the  pastor  has  lost  his  influence,  Mr.  Wilcox,  he 
must  have  done  this  by  some  act  or  acts.  Either  he  has 
committed  some  offence  or  omitted  some  important  duties. 
Now,  I  would  like  to  have  you  state  to  the  council  if  the 
pastor  has  been  negligent  of  any  ministerial  duty,  or  been 
guilty  of  any  conduct  which  ought  to  have  destroyed  his 
usefulness." 

The  gentleman  hesitating  and  changing  his  position, 
evidently  betraying  an  inability  to  answer,  Mr.  Hanly 
varied  his  question  by  asking,  — 

"  Has  it  been  supposed  that  the  pastor,  within  the  last 
ten  months  or  previously,  has  neglected  his  studies,  or 
neglected  his  people,  or  been  guilty  of  any  species  of  im- 
proper conduct  ?  " 

"  I  have  never  heard  any  thing  said  that  has  led  me  to 
suppose  that  the  pastor  was  negligent  of  his  studies  or 
that  he  did  not  take  proper  care  of  his  people.  No  one, 
to  my  knowledge,  has  ever  said  that  you  have  committed 
any  crime." 

"  Well,  Mr.  Wilcox,  I  will  ask  you  one  other  question. 
If  the  pastor  had  been  in  Europe  throughout  the  last  No- 
vember, do  you  think  there  would  have  been  any  com- 
plaint that  his  usefulness  was  lost?" 

"  I  do  not  know  as  he  lost  his  influence  in  the  month  of 
November  last." 


SQUIRE  DAVIDSON  A  DELEGATE  TO  A  COUNCIL.   177 

"  Well,  sir,  did  your  pastor  vote  for  governor  and  for 
president  last  November?" 

"He'm — he'm,"  with  a  sudden  reddening  of  the  face. 
Mr.  Wilcox  finally  remarked,  "  I  believe  that  he  did,  sir. 
It  is  generally  supposed  that  he  did." 

"  Well,  sir,  have  you  heard  that  any  of  our  people  were 
dissatisfied  with  the  manner  of  his  voting?" 

"I  have  heard  something  of  the  kind,  sir." 

"  There  was  considerable  political  excitement  in  this 
town,  was  there  not,  sir  ?  " 

"  There  was." 

"  Did  you  ever  know  of  the  pastor's  taking  any  active 
part  in  political  matters,  or  that  he  was  disposed  to  make 
the  subject  a  matter  of  conversation  when  visiting  the 
people  ?  " 

"  I  never  heard  much  said  about  the  matter." 

"  Have  you  heard  any  of  the  party  with  whom  the  pastor 
was  supposed  to  vote  complain  of  him  for  voting  ?  " 

"  Not  that  I  know  of." 

"  Did  the  pastor  vote  the  same  ticket  with  yourself?  " 

"  I  suppose  he  did  not." 

"Have  you  heard  any  thing  said  by  your  party  about 
the  pastor's  voting  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  I  have." 

"  Have  you  heard  more  from  your  party  than  from  any 
other?" 

"  I  suppose  that  I  have,  sir." 

The  moderator,  inquired  if  the  pastor  voted  with  the 
party  that  was  the  largest  in  his  parish. 

"  He  is  supposed,"  Mr.  Wilcox  replied,  "  to  have  voted 
with  the  party  which  is  the  largest  in  the  town,  but  not  in 
our  parish,  sir." 

A  member  of  the  council  inquired,  — 

"Had  the  pastor  voted  with  the  party  which  was  the 


178  A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

largest  in  his  own  society,  would  there,  in  your  opinion, 
have  been  the  opposition  to  him  which  now  exists  ?  " 

The  gentleman  not  answering  at  once,  the  member  pro- 
posing the  interrogatory  remarked  that  he  would  not 
press  the  question.  Whereupon  Mr.  Hanly  said  he  had 
no  further  questions  to  ask  Mr.  Wilcox  ;  and  the  witness 
retired. 

Mr.  Hanly  next  called  on  Mr.  Goodwin,  who,  appearing 
at  the  stand,  was  asked, — 

"  Will  you  please  to  state  to  the  council,  Mr.  Goodwin, 
your  views  of  the  present  state  of  feeling  in  our  church 
and  parish  in  relation  to  the  pastor  ?  " 

"I  don't  know  as  I  have  any  thing  in  particular  to 
offer,"  the  gentleman  remarked.  "There  appears  to  be 
considerable  bad  feeling  at  the  present  time.  Many  think 
it  is  time  to  have  another  minister." 

"  How  long  has  the  dissatisfaction  of  which  you  speak 
been  manifest  ?  " 

"I  never  heard  of  any  alienation  towards  the  pastor 
tiir  within  a  few  months.  The  people  until  lately  all 
thought  a  great  deal  of  the  minister ;  but,  somehow  or 
other,  there  does  not  appear  so  much  interest  in  him  now 
as  formerly." 

"  Have  you  heard  any  charges  brought  against  the  pas- 
tor for  neglect  of  duty  or  improper  conduct  ?  " 

"I  do  not  remember  to  have  heard  of  any  such." 

"Do  you  think  that  the  present  difficulties  with  the  pas- 
tor are  in  any  way  connected  with  the  exercise  of  his 
political  rights  ?  " 

"  Well,  sir,  to  be  frank,  I  am  free  to  say,  if  you  had 
voted  last  fall  a  certain  ticket,  those  who  are  now  op- 
posed to  you  would  not  have  acted  as  they  have." 

"  I  have  no  further  questions,"  Mr.  Hanly  observed. 

As  Mr.  Goodwin  was  retiring,  a  member  of  the  council 
inquired,  — 


SQUIRE  DAVIDSON  A   DELEGATE  TO   A   COUNCIL.       179 

"Did  the  pastor  vote  as  you  voted,  Mr.  Goodwin?" 
"  He  did  not,  sir,  I  believe.     I  wish  that  he  had.     I 
think  it  would  have  been  vastly  better  for  him  if  he  had 
voted  right" 

Squire  Davidson  inquired, — 
"  Who  has  decided  that  the  pastor  voted  wrong  ?  " 
Mr.  Goodwin  smiled,  and  retired  in  the  midst  of  a 
gentle  laugh  of  the  council  and  of  all  the  spectators. 

The  testimony  of  many  other  individuals  was  given, 
and  was  much  in  accordance  with  the  foregoing  evidence. 
It  came  out,  however,  from  one  of  the  witnesses,  that,  in 
contracting  a  second  marriage,  the  pastor  had  not  paid  suf- 
ficient deference  to  tfie  suggestions  of  Mr.  Wilcox's  family, 
whose  desires  had  been  excited  that  a  niece  of  theirs  might 
be  the  wife  of  their  pastor.  There  was  no  testimony  in- 
troduced which  in  any  form  reflected  on  the  character  of 
Mr.  Hanly.  He  was  shown  to  be  a  faithful,  studious,  la- 
borious, efficient,  consistent,  and  successful  minister.  In- 
cidentally, as  well  as  directly,  it  appeared  that  no  clergy- 
man among  the  many  with  whom  Mr.  Hanly  exchanged 
•was  as  acceptable  to  the  people  as  himself,  and  that  before 
that  "fatal  vote"  and  perhaps  that  "  unfortunate  election" 
of  a  wife,  in  utter  disregard  of  the  wishes  of  those  who 
arrogated  to  themselves  the  dictatorship  over  their  minis- 
ter, he  had  a  firm  place  in  the  affections  of  all.  Nor 
could  any  mistake,  from  the  entire  disclosures  which  were 
made,  what  was  the  true  and  real  ground  for  the  termina- 
tion of  the  pastor's  usefulness  among  his  people.  This 
loss  of  influence  was  not  owing  to  the  warm  opposition  of 
the  entire  political  party  in  Mr.  Hanly's  society  with 
which  he  was  not  in  sympathy.  The  real  cause  appeared 
to  be,  that  there  were  a  few  in  the  party  who  thought  no 
consideration  second  to  that  of  their  own  kind  of  politics, 
and  whose  care  for  its  success  was  their  religion ;  whose 
zeal  for  this  success  was  so  great  as  to  make  them  ready 


180         A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

to  annihilate  all  opposition,  even  if  the  destruction  of  pri- 
vate character,  or  happiness,  or  prosperity  were  the  con- 
sequence of  their  conduct.  Mr.  Wilcox  was  a  rich  man, 
a  man  of  many  farms,  of  many  manufacturing  works,  and 
tJiere  were  many  under  him.  He  could  say  to  one,  Go,  and 
he  goeth ;  to  another,  Come,  and  he  cometh  ;  to  another, 
Vote,  and  he  voteth.  The  society  of  which  Mr.  Hanly  was 
pastor  had  grown  up  under  the  auspices  of  the  Wilcox 
family  till  it  became  an  independent  body  and  able  to 
provide  for  its  own  interests.  Whilst  many  were  for  do- 
ing this,  and  thus  retain  their  pastor,  others  of  the  same 
political  party  with  Mr.  Wilcox,  though  not  condemning 
the  minister  for  voting  as  it  seemed  to  him  good, —  a  pre- 
rogative which  they  claimed  for  themselves,  and  which 
they  were  willing  every  freeman  should  enjoy,  —  yet 
thought  it  might  be  best,  for  the  sake  of  peace  in  the  parish, 
that  he  should  leave.  It  appeared  that  all  the  opposition 
to  the  pastor  began  with  one  or  two  individuals,  as  before 
stated,  and  that  they  had  variously  labored  to  increase 
dissatisfaction  and  provoke  to  their  way  of  thinking,  until 
at  last,  from  prudential  and  politic  considerations  on  the 
part  of  some,  themselves  willing  that  Mr.  Hanly  be  re- 
tained, a  state  of  feeling  existed  which  would  oppose  the 
pastor's  usefulness  and  happiness.  This  was  the  view 
taken  by  the  council  of  the  whole  matter  in  their  secret 
session  for  deliberation  and  result.  This  they  formally 
declared  on  the  morning  of  the  second  day  of  their  sitting. 
From  the  feeling  which  had  been  developed,  it  was  their 
opinion  that  the  pastor  could  no  longer  be  useful  unless 
there  was  a  change  in  this  feeling.  Taking  it  for  granted 
that  there  would  be  no  change,  they  advised  the  dismission 
of  Mr.  Hanly.  In  doing  this,  the  council  said  all  in  his 
praise  which  a  pastor  in  his  situation  could  desire.  They 
likewise  admonished  the  people  kindly  but  'faithfully. 
The  great  sin  of  destroying  a  pastor's  usefulness,  when  ho 


SQUIRE   DAVIDSON  A  DELEGATE  TO   A   COUNCIL.        181 

had  in  an  eminent  degree  demonstrated  his  fitness  for  the 
station  to  which  they  had  called  him,  merely  for  exercis- 
ing his  immunities  as  a  man  and  a  citizen,  was  set  forth  in 
no  very  measured  terms.  The  rights  of  a  pastor  —  his 
civil,  political,  social,  and  religious  rights  —  were  well  de- 
fined and  ably  defended.  The  assumption  of  any  to  a 
dictatorship  over  him  was  severely  condemned.  "  No 
people,"  said  the  council  in  their  result, — "no  people  nor 
individuals  in  a  parish  ought  ever  to  question,  or  do  any 
thing  to  embarrass,  a  pastor  in  the  exercise  of  all  the 
rights  which  belong  to  him  as  a  man  and  as  a  member  of 
the  community.  His  political  and  social  rights  are  no 
more  to  be  controlled  by  his  people  than  are  theirs  to  be 
by  him." 

.  In  shaping  this  result,  and  in  the  rebukes  which  were 
faithfully  administered  to  the  few  who  had  labored  in  all 
ways  to  effect  the  removal  of  Mr.  Hanly,  perhaps  no  indi- 
vidual had  more  influence  than  Squire  Davidson.  To  his 
large  and  comprehensive  mind,  his  generous  and  expansive 
heart,  every  act  of  a  people  towards  their  pastor  which 
tended  in  the  least  to  impair  his  personal  rights  or  dimin- 
ish his  happiness  would  have  no  other  appearance  but 
that  of  evil.  Consequently,  every  utterance  from  him 
would  be  condemnatory,  and  every  expression  a  severe 
though  deserved  rebuke.  "  A  minister  is  a  man,"  he  would 
often  say ;  "let  him  live  as  a  man,  be  treated  as  a  man, 
enjoy  as  a  man,  with  every  help  from  his  people  to  smooth 
his  path  ;  for,  after  all,  his  situation  has  so  much  that  is 
trying  about  it  he  can  enjoy  but  little  this  side  of  heaven." 
16 


CHAPTER    XV. 

AN   INCIDENT  AT  AN  ASSOCIATION. 

EVERY  clergyman  in  New  England,  and,  indeed,  through- 
out our  country,  is  in  connection  with  some  association 
which  has  for  its  object  ministerial  progress.  To  such  an 
association  Mr.  Eldridge  was  attached.  Whilst  its  meet- 
ings are  for  the  general  improvement  of  the  mind  and 
heart,  and  for  opportunities  in  which  counsel  can  be  ob- 
tained by  its  members  either  on  matters  of  a  parochial  or 
of  a  personal  character,  yet  the  study  of  the  Greek  and 
Hebrew,  the  critical  reading  of  sermons  or  literary  or 
theological  dissertations,  does  not  occupy  the  minds  of 
those  present  from  the  opening  to  the  adjournment  of  the 
association,  or  presbytery.  Having  in  general  the  same 
object  in  life,  there  is  sympathy  in  its  members  one  with 
another  ;  and  when,  therefore,  they  come  together,  as  they 
do  at  infrequent  intervals,  it  is  to  be  supposed  that  there 
will  be  some  expressions  other  than  what  are  strictly  lit- 
erary or  theological.  It  would  be  strange  if  the  opportu- 
nity were  not  improved  fqr  general  relaxation  and  the 
diversion  of  the  mind  from  its  severer  exercises  in  the 
performance  of  the  arduous  and  often  perplexing  and  try- 
ing duties  of  the  pastorship.  The  recess  had  for  dinner 
or  tea  is  very  often  the  opportunity  which  is  improved  for 
this  purpose. 

As  a  few  members  of  the  association  with  which  Mr. 

(182) 


AN  INCIDENT  AT  AN  ASSOCIATION.  183 

Eldridge  was  connected  were  standing,  after  dinner,  under 
a  large  elm  tree  that  spread  its  many  branches  over  his 
house,  a  remark  was  made,  in  a  somewhat  loud  utterance, 
that  arrested  the  attention  of  another  circle  which  stood 
near  the  door.  So  one  of  this  latter  circle,  to  satisfy  the 
curiosity  which  was  awakened,  not  only  in  his  own  mind, 
but  in  the  minds  of  others  about  him,  observed  to  the 
brother  under  the  tree  who  made  the  remark, — 

"  What  is  that,  brother  Martin,  you  just  said  ?  " 

"  0,"  said  brother  Martin,  "  we  have  been  discussing 
here  since  dinner  the  subject  of  pastoral  security  ;  and  I 
remarked  that  I  did  not  believe  there  was  a;  pastor  in  the 
commonwealth  who  was  at  ease  on  his  saddle." 

"  That  is  rather  a  random  shot,  is  it  not  ?  "  inquired  the 
brother  for  whose  gratification  the  remark  was  repeated. 

"  Of  course  it  is,"  Mr.  Martin  replied  ;  "  I  intended  it  as 
such  —  to  hit  every  way." 

"Well,  I  cannot  agree  with  you,"  said  Mr.  Ellis,  the 
brother  before  alluded  to. 

By  this  time  pretty  much  all  the  brethren  had  been  at- 
tracted towards  the  tree  and  were  together  under  its 
shade.  Said  brother  Martin, — 

"  I  perceive  we  have  about  all  the  members  of  the  asso- 
ciation here  ;  and  I  move  the  question  be  put  to  each  one 
as  to  his  own  views  and  feelings  of  the  permanency  of  *his 
relation  to  his  people.  I  think  the  response  would  be  a 
very  fair  illustration  and  representation  of  the  position  of 
all  the  pastors  in  the  state." 

Without  waiting  for  the  formality  of  a  vote  upon  his 
motion,  Mr.  Martin  at  once  asked  the  brother  nearest  him 
for  his  expression. 

"  I  don't  know  about  this,"  brother  Parker  said  ;  "  but 
I  very  often  tell  my  wife,  when  I  plant  my"  garden  in  the 
spring,  that  I  do  not  know  who  will  have  the  fruits  thereof 
iu  the  autumn.  There  is  nr thing  now  very  alarming 


184  A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

among  my  people  ;  but  as  for  feeling  secure  for  even  a 
year,  that  is  altogether  out  of  the  question.  I  have  felt 
that  I  might  be  dismissed  almost  any  time." 

"  Brother  Taylor,  how  is  it  with  you  ?  " 

"  As  yet  I  have  not  had  any  great  fears  about  going," 
Mr.  Taylor  said.  "  You  all  know  that  our  people  have  run 
largely  into  debt  in  building  their  meeting  house.  They 
think  they  have  quite  a  burden  to  carry,  and  don't  trouble 
themselves  about  me  much.  Besides,  my  people  feel  that 
I  am  a  business  sort  of  a  man,  and  are  relying  on  me  to 
financier  for  them  and  help  them.  If  they  were  not  em- 
barrassed and  were  going  on  smoothly,  I  should  feel  that 
I  might  find  myself  suddenly  so  situated  as  to  make  it  for 
my  comfort  to  seek  another  parish." 

"  Well,  father  Stowe,  will  you  have  the  goodness  to 
favor  us  with  your  experience  in  relation  to  this  matter?" 

"  As  I  have  now  weathered  it  for  upwards  of  thirty 
years  among  my  present  people,  I  do  not  know  as  I  have 
any  very  particular  fears  of  being  dismissed.  My  people 
would  be  rather  mortified  to  turn  me  off  in  my  old  age 
after  I  have  endured  the  battle  so  long.  I  presume,  how- 
ever, many  of  them  would  have  no  objection  if  I  was  in 
heaven.  If  I  had  not  been  with  them  for  such  a  length  of 
time,  I  have  no  doubt  there  would  have  been  a  movement 
\vithin  a  few  years  past  in  relation  to  another  pastor.  I 
hear  now  occasionally  that  some  of  the  young  folks  are 
talking  about  a  colleague  for  me." 

"  Brother  Sandford,  how  is  it  with  you?" 

"If  I  had  not  been  blessed  with  the  means  of  living 
without  my  people,  I  should  have  been  routed  two  or  three 
times  within  the  last  ten  years.  I  almost  know  that  I  should 
not  have  been  where  I  am  at  present  if  I  had  been  depend- 
ent on  my  people.  They  know  I  can  live  without  them  ; 
and  I  suppose  they  are  rather  proud  of  the  fact.  If  the 
salary  now  is  not  promptly  paid,  they  arc  not  much  troubled 


AN  INCIDENT  AT  AN  ASSOCIATION.  185 

by  the  delinquency.  If  I  were  poor,  they  would  be  under 
the  necessity  of  being  punctual." 

"  Brother  Haven,  what.can  we  hear  from  you?" 

"I  feel  pretty  much'with  brother  Parker,  that,  when  I 
set  out  a  tree  in  my  garden,  I  am  by  no  means  sure  that, 
if  I  live,  I  shall  see  its  first  blossom.  I  am  fully  of  the 
opinion  that  there  are  but  few,  if  any,  who  are  at  ease  on 
their  saddle,  as  the  brother  said." 

In  this  manner  was  each  member  of  the  association  ques- 
tioned ;  and  it  appeared  that  there  was  not  an  individual 
member  who  felt  that  he  had  any  hold  of  his  people  which 
would  survive  the  resolute  effort  of  a  few  to  put  asunder 
the  pastoral  relation.  All  confessed  to  a  continued  anxie- 
ty as  to  a  rupture  ;  arid,  on  the  whole,  it  was  very  generally 
conceded  that  the  brother  whose  remark  at  the  onset  was 
deemed  by  some  as  too  broad  had  only  related  a  truth, 
which  the  experience  of  the  brethren  fully  confirmed. 

"  This  is  really  a  melancholy  state  of  things,"  Mr. 
Parker  observed,  "for  the  pastors  of  our  churches  to  be 
thus  'disturbed  with  anxiety  as  to  the  permanency  of  their 
continuance  among  their  people." 

"  It  is  truly,"  acquiesced  Mr.  Martin,  "  a  very  great  evil, 
not  only  to  pastors,  but  likewise  to  churches.  I  have  no 
doubt  this  conscious  insecurity  of  pastors  subtracts  from 
their  usefulness  at  least  twenty  per  cent.  They  are  now 
on  the  watch,  and  .are  sensitive,  to  every  passing  breeze, 
not  knowing  but  a  storm  may  be  gathering.  Considera- 
ble time  is  consumed  in  watching  events  and  in  calculating 
probabilities  ;  and  with  some  pastors  there  is  that  feverish 
excitement  which  greatly  impairs  efficient  action." 

"  This  may  be  all  true  of  some  of  our  brethren  who  are 
very  nervous  and  sensitive,"  said  Mr.  Selden  ;  "  but  I 
rather  think  there  are  some  who  do  not  spend  much 
lime  in  borrowing  trouble." 

"  I  think,"  continued  brother  Martin,  "  that  Mr.  Selden 
10* 


186  A   VOICE   FROM   THE   PARSONAGE. 

is  not  exactly  a  competent  judge  in  the  present  matter. 
Very  few  men  have  your  nerve,  brother  Selden  ;  very  few 
can  stand  up  as  you  can  in  times  of  trouble.  You  have 
just  now  stated  that  every  one  or  two  years  there  was 
quite  a  stir  among  your  people  in  relation  to  your  removal, 
and  that  you  would  have  been  dismissed  long  since  had 
not  your  people  been  afraid  of  you.  Now,  supposing  I 
had  been  in  your  situation  ;  don't  you  think  I  should  have 
been  so  much  oppressed  with  what  I  might  have  heard  as 
would  have  essentially  hindered  my  usefulness  ?  " 

"It  is  not  best  to  be  chicken  hearted,"  Mr.  Selden 
replied. 

"But  I  cannot  think  it  is  chicken  heartedness,"  said 
brother  Sandford.  "  This  anxiety  is  almost  inseparable 
from  humanity.  I  agree  with  brother  Martin,  that  you 
are  not  a  proper  judge  in  the  premises.  Very  few  men 
have  your  nerve." 

"  I  would  like  to  inquire  of  brother  Selden,"  said  Mr. 
Eldridge,  "  if  the  excitement  among  his  people  from  time 
to  time  in  relation  to  his  removal  has  not  occupied  much 
of  his  time,  if  it  has  not  depressed  his  spirits  ?  " 

"  0,  yes,"  said  brother  Selden  ;  "  it  has  cost  me  many 
hours,  I  dare  say,  to  think  over  matters  and  to  prepare  to 
meet  events." 

"  If  your  thoughts  had  not  been  engrossed  with  prepa- 
ration to  meet  the  obstacles  to  your  ministry  which  accu- 
mulated under  the  operation  of  the  uneasiness  of  some  of 
•your  people,  you  would  have  been  occupied  in  doing  some- 
thing directly  for  their  benefit,  would  you  not? "  Mr.  Mar- 
tin inquired. 

"  Very  likely,  brother." 

"  Your  own  admissions,"  said  Mr.  Eldridge,  "  prove 
that  the  disposition  on  the  part  of  your  people  to  disturb 
for  trifling  causes  is  very  hurtful  both  to  the  pastor  and  to 
them.  I  suppose  all  the  trouble  in  your  parish  has  been. 


AN  INCIDENT  AT  AN  ASSOCIATION.  187 

from  fanciful  rather  than  from  real  causes.  No  charges 
are  brought  against  you  to  affect  your  character  in  the 
least,  either  as  a  preacher,  pastor,  or  a  man.  From  what 
I  am  able  to  gather,  your  people  acknowledge  that  there 
is  no  preacher  in  the  association  who  is  superior  to  you, 
and  that  the  attempts  made  to  displace  you  have  pro- 
ceeded from  a  few,  who  hardly  know  what  kind  of  a  min- 
ister would  please  them.  These  wish  for  frequent  changes 
merely  to  gratify  a  sort  of  capricious  feeling.  Though 
you  have  not  been  cast  down  when  these  individuals  have 
been  agitating,  there  are  not  many,  if  there  be  any,  of  us 
who  would  have  stood  up.  We  should  have  felt  our  use- 
fulness to  be  at  an  end  in  such  a  fire  and  racket." 

"  It  is  very  strange,"  father  Stowe  remarked,  "  that  our 
churches  and  parishes  do  not  realize  the  vast  injury  they 
are  doing  themselves  when  exercised  with  this  restless 
spirit  of  which  we  have  been  speaking.  Take  brother 
Selden's  case  for  illustration.  He  has  been  settled  about 
twelve  years ;  and  for  some  time  past,  as  often,  I  should 
think,  as  every  other  year,  I  have  heard  of  trouble  there. 
The  great  body  of  his  people  have  been  satisfied  with  him, 
and  are  now,  I  presume  ;  but  how  much  injury  indirectly 
have  they  received  when  in  these  fomenting  states  !  They 
could  not  listen  to  preaching  with  any  profit,  for  their  minds 
were  disquieted.  Nor  could  they  maintain  that  spirit  of 
earnest  prayer  for  the  revival  of  God's  work  among  them 
which  is,  indispensable  to  a  successful  ministry  of  the  word. 
If  our  churches  would  feel  that  the  pastor  they  have  is 
God's  servant  and  gift,  and  that  they  are  under  the  high 
est  obligations  to  derive  the  greatest  good  from  his  minis- 
try,—  if  they  would  not  suffer  themselves  to  think  that 
there  was  a  possibility  of  his  being  taken  away  from  them 
except  by  death,  —  I  think  there  would  be  both  better 
preachers  and  better  Christians  than  there  are  now.  In  a 
great  many  parishes  nowadays  the  people  are  pretty  much 


188  A   VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

all  the  time  either  hearing  candidates,  or  settling  a  minis- 
ter, or  quarrelling  one  away.  Now,  what  effect  has  the 
word  preached  among  such  a  people  ?  " 

"  Brethren,"  said  Mr.  Avers,  "  I  think  we  ministers  must 
take  some  of  the  responsibility  for  this  restless  spirit  be- 
ing in  our  churches  ;  for  some  of  us,  at  least,  encourage  it. 
There  are,  you  know,  ministerial  lawyers  whom  these 
restless  spirits  in  our  churches  consult,  and  by  whom  they 
are  often  indirectly,  and  many  times  directly,  aided  in  their 
attempts  at  disorganization.  It  is  pleasant  to  poor  hu- 
man nature  to  be  flattered  and  be  had  in  high  estimation 
for  our  wisdom  ;  but  I  do  not  think  it  right  for  a  minister, 
for  a  pastor,  to  take  up  against  his  brother  pastor,  and 
be  a  sort  of  semi-lawyer  for  these  people  in  our  churches 
who  are  forever  making  difficulty." 

Here  the  colloquy  was  interrupted  by  the  arrival  of  the 
hour  for  the  afternoon  session  of  the  association. 


CHAPTER    XVI. 

AN  EVENING  IN  BOSTON. 

IN  the  prosecution  of  his  mercantile  pursuits  in  tho 
country,  it  was  necessary  that  Squire  Davidson  should 
frequently  visit  the  city.  At  the  period  of  one  of  these 
visits  the  legislature  was  in  session  ;  and  as  Mr.  Adams, 
the  representative  from  his  town,  was  one  of  his  particular 
friends  and  a  member  of  the  same  church  with  himself, 
he  availed  himself  of  his  earliest  leisure  to  call  at  the 
State  House  and  seek  an  interview  with  his  friend.  The 
squire  was  not  designing  any  protracted  stop  in  the  lobby, 
but  only  to  acquaint  his  friend  with  the  fact  of  his  being 
in  the  city,  witli  the  expectation  of  calling  upon  him 
again  at  his  hotel.  After  a  brief  interview,  made  briefer 
than  was  anticipated  by  the  fact  that  the  house  was  about 
passing  to  be  engrossed  a  bill  which  had  long  been  before 
the  body  and  which  had  awakened  strong  feeling  and 
elicited  lengthy  debate,  the  squire  took  his  leave,  accept- 
ing, however,  an  invitation  from  the  representative  to  call 
upon  him  again  at  the  Bronificld  House. 

There  being  several  members  of  the  legislature  in  whose 
acquaintance  Mr.  A  dams  had  found  great  pleasure,  he  invited 
them  likewise  ;  for  he  felt  assured  that  their  acquaintance 
with  the  squire  would  on  every  account  be  an  increased 
source  of  their  pleasure  as  well  as  a  great  gratification  to 

(189) 


190         A  VOICE  FKOM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

him.  When,  therefore,  the  company  were  together  in  tho 
evening,  it  was  found  that  eleven  individuals,  representing 
different  portions  of  the  state  and  various  professions, 
were  happy  in  each  other's  society.  For  a  while  their 
conversation  was  on  general  subjects ;  and  it-  was  some- 
what remarkable  that  most  of  the  gentlemen  discovered  a 
similarity  of  tastes  and  feelings,  which  contributed  to 
enhance  in  no  small  degree  their  enjoyment.  At  length 
one  of  the  gentlemen  inquired  of  Mr.  Adams  who  he 
thought  would  be  chosen  election  preacher,  as  the  morrow 
was  the  period  assigned  for  the  choice.  This  question 
brought  up  the  subject  of  ministers  ;  and  as  the  company 
were  chiefly  professors  of  religion,  they  soon  evinced  their 
interest  in  this  important  class  of  the  community.  No 
subject  more  interested  the  squire,  as  his  sympathies  had 
for  a  long  period,  and  in  a  remarkable  manner,  been  with 
the  men  who  were  so  conspicuous  to  every  eye  and  so 
often  the  subject  of  remark  from  almost  every  tongue. 
All  noticed  his  eager  interest,  and  all  were  delighted 
with  the  zeal  in  which  he  expressed  himself  in  relation  to 
the  men  whose  position  was  so  peculiar  and  trying.  At 
length  Mr.  Davis,  of  Boston,  observed,  — 

"  I  wonder  sometimes  how  any  young  man  dare  enter 
the  ministry." 

"  How  so  ?  "  inquired  Mr.  Adams. 

"  The  situation  of  a  clergyman  is  so  uncertain,  per- 
plexing, and  trying  as  to  present  but  few  inducements  to 
become  a  minister,"  Mr.  Davis  replied. 

"  Ah,  well,"  said  the  squire,  "  the  reward  is  to  come.  A 
faithful  minister  will  have  no  low  place  in  heaven  nor 
small  enjoyment  there." 

"  That  is  about  all  the  inducement  that  I  can  see."  said 
Mr.  Davis,  "  to  dispose  any  man  to  be  a  minister.  Theve 
is  much  in  this  consideration,  I  acknowledge.  The  reflf  c- 


AN  EVENING  IN  BOSTON.  191 

tion  must  be  pleasant,  that,  by  entering  the  ministry  and 
continuing  faithful  therein,  an  individual  will  be  the  in- 
strument in  saving  souls  and  preparing  them  for  heaven." 

"  That  is  the  greatest  motive,"  said  Mr.  Adams,  "  to  the 
young  man  who  makes  choice  of  the  clerical  profession." 

"  A  man  must  have  strong  faith  and  but  little  care  for 
the  things  of  this  world,"  Mr.  Davis  observed,  "  who  de- 
cides to  become  a  minister." 

"It  is  high  time,  I  think,"  remarked  Mr.  Talbot,  "  that 
a  different  feeling  prevailed  in  the  community  in  relation 
to  the  ministry.  It  seems  to  me,  when  I  see  and  hear 
how  ministers  are  treated,  that  there  is  but  little  humanity 
in  the  consideration  of  them.  Often  when  they  are  taxing 
all  their  physical  and  intellectual  power  for  the  advan- 
tage of  the  people,  and  when  they  are  really  accomplishing 
vast  benefits  for  them,  not  only  for  time  but  for  eternity, 
how  sadly  are  they  traduced  and  how  suddenly  their  user 
fulness  arrested  !  This  is  done,  too,  without  the  show  of 
reason,  and  only  to  gratify  pride,  or  caprice,  or  some  more 
criminal  feeling.  The  effects  of  such  conduct  on  the 
happiness  of  the  pastor  and  family  are  at  times  painful  i 
the  extreme." 

"  That  is  all  true,"  replied  Mr.  Davis  ;  "  and  it  was  be- 
cause a  minister  is  so  very  insecure  in  his  relations  to  his 
people  that  I  remarked  just  now  as  I  did,  wondering  how 
any  young  man  could  consent  to  become  a  minister.  A 
clergyman  can  make  no  calculation  ahead.  He  has  no 
foundation  for  hope,  if  he  be  faithful  in  the  discharge  of 
his  duties  to  his  people,  that  they  will  cherish  him  in  their 
affections  and  sustain  him  in  their  service.  Any  trifling 
cause  may  set  him  afloat." 

"From  your  expressions,  Mr.  Davis,  I  should  judge," 
said  the  squire,  "  that  you  were  familiar  with  the  vicissi- 
tudes of  the  pastoral  office  in  our  country  towns.  I  have 
supposed  that  your  city  ministers  were  regarded  with 


192  A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

much  more  consideration  than  the  clergy  are  in  the  coim 
try  by  their  people.  Instances  of  the  dismission  of 
pastors  in  the  city  are  not  rery  common,  I  believe." 

"  We  intend,  of  course,"  Mr.  Davis  replied,  "  to  be 
reasonable  and  just  towards  our  ministers,  but  perhaps 
fail  in  this  respect  as  often  as  you  do  in  the  country. 
Perhaps  there  is  something  in  the  circumstances  of  a  city 
population  which  tends  to  the  greater  permanency  of  the 
pastoral  relation  over  that  which  exists  in  the  country." 

"  I  do  not  know,"  the  squire  observed,  "  as  I  understand 
wherein  the  circumstances  of  the  city  people  differ  from 
those  of  the  country  in  this  respect." 

"  We  have,  you  know,  a  variety  of  churches  with  us  ; 
and  if  any  individuals  become  dissatisfied  with  their 
pastor,  it  is  a  very  easy  thing  for  them  to  leave  and  go  to 
another  church." 

"There  is  something  in  this  consideration,"  said  the 
squire.  "  It  never  occurred  to  me  before.  I  can  under- 
stand now  how  a  pastor  in  the  city  may  remain  settled  in 
the  same  church  for  years." 

"  Our  population,"  continued  Mr.  Davis,  "  is  made  up  to 
a  large  extent  of  those  who  formerly  lived  in  the  country 
and  have  not  that  strength  of  attachment  to  locality 
which  exists  with  you.  In  the  country  people  think  much 
of  their  church.  All  their  early  and  strong  associations 
are  with  it.  There  worshipped  their  fathers  —  there  they 
were  wont  to  go  from  early  childhood  to  maturer  years 
—  there  they  have  formed  and  strengthened  their  strongest 
friendships.  A  thousand  considerations  bind  the  people  in 
the  country  to  their  own  sanctuary  and  make  them  indis- 
posed to  leave  them  for  another,  were  such  an  alternative 
practicable,  which  you  know  is  not  often  the  case.  If  a 
parishioner  in  the  country  becomes  dissatisfied  with  his 
pastor,  he  must  either  absent  himself  from  church  and 
remain  at  home,  or  ride  every  Sabbath  much  of  a  distance 


AN   EVENING   IN  BOSTON.  193 

to  another  town  for  worship,  or  make  an  effort  to  effect 
the  removal  of  his  pastor.  This  latter  course  is  most 
usually  pursued ;  and  it  is  for  this  reason,  I  apprehend, 
that  dismissions  in  the  country  are  more  frequent  than  in 
the  city.  When  we  are  dissatisfied,  it  is  the  easiest  thing 
to  change  our  place  of  worship  for  the  enjoyment  of  a 
more  welcome  minister." 

"  Your  people  in  the  city,"  said  the  squire,  "  virtually 
change  ministers  very  often." 

"  Exactly  so,"  said  Mr.  Davis.  "  Some  congregations 
so  change  in  course  of  a  few  years  that  very  few  of  the 
people  who  were  prominent  in  the  settlement  of  the  pastor 
are  to  be  found  in  them.  Some  move  out  of  the  city, 
some  go  to  other  churches,  sometimes  because  they  are 
better  pleased  with  another  clergyman  than  their  own, 
and  at  other  times  because  in  changing  their  place  of  resi- 
dence they  are  remotely  situated  from  the  sanctuary  where 
they  have  been  accustomed  to  worship.  I  have  no  doubt 
there  are  pastors  here  who  will  say  that  their  congrega- 
tions have  changed  almost  entirely  within  the  last  six  or 
eight  years.  I  know  of  some  individuals  who  have  be- 
longed to  two  or  three  churches  within  this  period." 

"  There  might  be  added  another  reason,"  Mr.  Allen 
suggested,  "  why  the  pastoral  relation  is  less  frequently 
sundered  in  the  city  than  it  is  in  the  country  ;  and  that 
is,  city  ministers  are  less  watched.  In  the  country,  you 
know,  a  clergyman  cannot  move  without  half  a  dozen  or 
more  are  observing  him.  His  whole  daily  conduct  as  well 
as  that  of  his  family  is  liable  to  be  known  and  remarked 
upon  all  over  the  parish." 

"  A  clergyman  should  do  nothing,"  Mr.  Marvin  said, 
"  which  should  be  to  his  disadvantage  were  it  made 
public." 

"  You  know,  sir,"  the  squire  quickly  remarked,  "  people 
sometimes  but  partly  see,  and  then  speak  of  a  thing  as  if 


194  A  VOICE   FROM  THE   PARSONAGE. 

it  had* been  fully  observed.  I  know  there  are  many  people 
who  are  much  disposed  to  talk  about  ministers,  and  these 
gather  materials  for  their  gossip  from  their  observations 
of  them  as  they  go  out  and  come  in.  They  often  manu- 
facture a  large  story  out  of  a  circumstance  which  was  but 
partly  seen  by  them.  They  thought  they  saw  what  they 
reported  ;  but  from  an  examination  into  the  facts,  which 
became  necessary  from  the  commotion  which  had  been 
excited,  it  appeared  that  the  individual  who  started  the 
story  but  imperfectly  saw,  and  his  imagination  supplied  the 
place  of  perfect  vision." 

"That  is  it,"  Mr.  Allen  observed.  "In  the  country  the 
tongue  must  go  as  well  as  in  the  city  ;  but  the  causes  to 
excite  its  motion  are  less  variable  in  the  former.  So  the 
people  must  make  the  best  use  of  the  materials  for  gossip 
which  they  have.  The  minister  is  a  prominent  man  ;  ho 
is  public  property ;  and  so  he  is  made,  unfortunate  man, 

the  subject  of  daily  and  common  remark.  Mrs.  A ,  a 

near  neighbor,  sees  him  ride  away  from  home  in  the 
morning.  Soon  Mrs.  B calls  on  Mrs.  A and  pres- 
ently asks  where  the  minister  is  gone,  for  she  saw  him 

ride  by  their  house.  '  0,'  says  Mrs.  A ,  '  I  don't  know 

where  he  goes  ;  he  seems  to  be  going  somewhere  all  the 
time.'  In  this  way  the  mill  often  starts 'in  the  country, 
and  before  the  gate  is  shut  quite  a  grist  is  ground-  Now, 
the  changing  scenes  of  the  city  continually  give  rise  to 
varied  subjects  of  engrossing  thought  and  remark,  and  the 
minister  thus  escapes.  Besides,  people  in  the.  city  are 
full  of  business  and  "have  no  time  to  watch  their  neigh- 
bors ;  and,  if  they  had  this  time,  there  are  too  many  of 
them,  so  that  the  minister  would  of  necessity  be  passed 
by  to  a  great  extent." 

"  I  trust,"  said  the  squire,  "  our  friend  Allen  does  not 
charge  to  the  ladies  the  entire  responsibility  of  the  mis- 
chief done  to  our  country  ministers  by  the  tongue." 


.       AN  EVENING  IN  BOSTON.  195 

"  Far  from  it,"  Mr.  Allen  replied.  "  I  am  not  one  who 
supposes  that  gentlemen  cannot  and  do  not  indulge  them- 
selves in  watching  the  movements  of  ministers  and  in 
reporting  the  result  of  their  observations.  I  have  seen 
too  many  a  Paul  Pry  in  my  day,  who  have  directed 
their  scrutinizing  glance  at  their  minister  so  effectually  as 
to  imagine  they  were  perfectly  acquainted  with  his  ways, 
not  to  believe  that  the  gentlemen  are  as  much,  if  not  more, 
in  fault  than  the  ladies.  I  think  they  hoist  the  gate  quite 
as  frequently  as  the  ladies." 

"  You  have  sufficiently  acquitted  yourself  of  the  charge, 
Mr.  Allen,"  the  squire  replied.  "  Were  there  any  ladies 
present,  I  presume  they  would  be  satisfied." 

"I  should  hope  so,"  said  Mr.  Allen;  "for  I  should  be 
very  unwilling  to  make  them  exclusively  responsible  for 
the  indulgence  of  that  idle  curiosity  over  a  minister  and 
his  affairs  from  which  so  many  evils  have  originated  in 
our  country  parishes  and  have  fallen  so  disastrously  on 
ministers." 

"I  have  no  doubt,"  Mr.  Talbot  observed,  "that  the 
cause  assigned  by  Mr.  Allen  for  the  greater  permanency 
of  the  pastoral  relation  in  the  city  than  in  the  country 
is  true.  My  own  observation  confirms  me  in  this  opinion. 
People  must  talk,  and  consequently  they  must  have  some- 
thing to  talk  about ;  and  the  minister  is  about  as  fruitful 
a  subject  as  can  be  found  in  the  country.  I  regret  that 
it  is  so  ;  but  we  must  admit  the  fact,  there  is  a  disposition 
to  talk  about  a  pastor  to  his  discredit.  I  will  not  affirm 
that  all  who  say  improper  things  about  him  always  de- 
sign to  do  him  any  injury  ;  but,  then,  what  is  thus  spoken 
seldom  fails  to  produce  this  effect.  A  minister  in  the 
country  is  pretty  narrowly  watched  ;  for  he  is  a  very 
prominent  man  there.  In  the  city  this  is  not  so  much  the 
case.  There  are  individuals  here,  and  a  large  number  of 
them  too,  as  prominent  as  the  minister,  and  perhaps  more 


196         A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PAESONAGE. 

so.  The  city  minister,  therefore,  is  not  alone  viewed  from 
an  eminence.  Were  I  a  country  minister,  I  should  wish 
to  live  remote  from  neighbors.  I  would  have  a  house,  if 
I  could  by  any  means  obtain  one,  in  a  secluded  spot,  so 
that  it  would  not  be  known  what  was  going  on  about  my 
premises.  Lately  I  visited  a  relative  of  my  wife,  who  is  a 
clergyman.  I  found  him  in  an  unhappy  condition.  There 
was  trouble  in  his  parish.  To  my  inquiry,  '  What  occa- 
sioned this  trouble?'  he  took  me  to  his  window  and  asked 
me  to  look  up  to  a  house  opposite  to  his  own,  on  a  rising 
eminence,  from  which  his  premises  are  easily  seen,  and, 
directing  my  eye  to  a  particular  window,  remarked, 
'  There !  that  window  has  made  all  this  disturbance.'  I 
learned  that  neither  the  pastor,  nor  any  of  his  family,  nor 
a  stranger  could  go  in  or  come  out,  nor  a  carriage  be 
driven  up  to  his  door,  without  there  being  generally  at 
'  that  toindow '  one  or  more  individuals  to  watch.  And 
what  they  actually  saw  and  what  they  thought  they  wit- 
nessed was  sure  to  be  a  subject  of  remark  all  over  the 
parish  within  four  and  twenty  hours  ;  for  they  who  lived 
in  that  house  were  very  fond  of  telling  the  news,  and  gos- 
sip was  their  chief  delight.  Now,  these  people  had  re- 
ported things  which  they  fancied  they  saw  in  relation  to 
the  minister,  and  others  had  added  a  little,  till  there  was 
considerable  of  a  fire  kindled  in  the  parish.  I  advised 
my  friend  to  sell  his  place  and  move  into  the  woods,  or 
else  into  the  city,  where  he  could  escape  such  searching 
eyes  and  those  prattling  tongues." 

"  I  most  fully  believe  that  all  this  is  true,"  said  Squire 
Davidson.  "  A  man's  neighbors  in  the  country  often  do 
him  great  harm,  and  a  minister  is  oftentimes  more  harmed 
in  this  manner  than  other  people.  I  have  always  deemed 
it  of  the  first  importance  that  our  pastor  should  have  a 
house  in  a  neighborhood  of  consistent  and  reasonable 
people ;  for  I  have  felt  that  if  he  should  have  a  certain 


AN  EVENING  IN  BOSTON.  197 

class  of  neighbors  his  usefulness,  his  happiness,  and  his 
respectability  might  be  very  materially  affected  and  in- 
jured. I  have  known  of  great  difficulties  in  parishes 
which  have  resulted  in  the  dismission  of  their  pastors,  be- 
ing commenced  by  the  unwise,  uncharitable,  and  unrea- 
sonable course  pursued  by  the  minister's  neighbors.  With- 
out being  aware,  often,  of  the  mischief  their  remarks  are 
fitted  to  produce,  they  indulge  themselves  in  idle  gossip, 
of  which  people  in  other  parts  of  the  parish  take  hold, 
and  thus  persons  evil  disposed  towards  a  pastor  are  fur- 
nished with  materials  for  doing  him  great  harm.  The 
same  result  would  be  effected  towards  any  other  individ- 
ual than  the  minister,  provided  this  individual  were  an 
object  of  equal  interest  to  people  in  general.  I  think  the 
neighbors  of  a  minister,  would  they  consult  his  peace  and 
the  good  of  the  parish,  ought  at  times  to  be  blind,  or,  if 
Dot  blind,  be  dumb.  There  is  no  manner  of  use  of  telling 
all  that  we  see  and  know,  even  if  the  matter  of  our  obser- 
vations and  knowledge  be  entirely  of  an  innocent  char- 
acter." 

A  servant  now  entering  with  refreshments  changed  the 
subject  of  remark. 

17* 


CHAPTER    XVII. 

A  BKOTHEK'S  TROUBLE. 

AN  agent  of  the  American  Board,  having  passed  a  Sab- 
bath with  Mr.  Eldridge  and  presented  to  his  people  the 
pressing  claims  of  the  heathen,  improved  the  Monday  fol- 
lowing in  calling  among  the  families  for  the  purpose  of 
receiving  subscriptions  in  aid  of  his  important  enterprise. 
As  he  was  about  entering  the  door  of  the  parsonage  on 
his  return  to  dinner  he  saw  Mr.  Eldridge  advancing  from 
the  road  towards  the  house  ;  and,  waiting  on  the  steps,  the 
two  entered  the  dwelling  together. 

"  I  have  just  been  to  the  post  office,"  Mr.  Eldridge  ob- 
served, as  they  were  seated,  "  and  have  been  pretty  well 
recompensed  for  my  trouble.  I  have  received  these  five 
letters  and  seven  pamphlets.  "With  your  permission, 
brother,  I  will  read  the  letters,  and  you  can  be  looking 
at  the  pamphlets." 

For  about  fifteen  minutes  both  were  thus  engaged,  and 
then  silence  was  broken  as  Mr.  Eldridge  folded  his  last 
letter  by  his  observing,  — 

"  It  is  really  shameful  that  some  parishioners  have  so 
little  consideration  for  their  pastor's  usefulness  and  com- 
fort as  well  as  for  their  own  improvement.  Here  is  a 
letter  from  brother  Elton  informing  me 'that  he  shall  be 
under  the  necessity  of  remaining  at  home,  and  thus  be  de- 
prived of  his  great  anticipated  pleasure  from  an  attend- 

(198) 


A  BROTHER'S  TROUBLE,  199 

ance  upon  the  meeting  of  the  American  Board  as  he  had 
arranged  with  me  to  do." 

"  Is  he  prevented  from  going  by  any  interference  of  his 
people  ?  "  the  agent  inquired.  "  I  am  led  to  believe  such 
to  be  the  case  by  the  manner  of  your  remark." 

"  I  am  mortified  to  say,"  Mr.  Eldridge  replied,  "  that  he 
is,  and  that  he  is  prevented  by  an  individual,  as  the  prin- 
cipal cause,  who  ought  to  have  been  the  most  anxious  to 
have  him  attend.  It  need  be  no  private  matter  ;  an  indi- 
vidual in  the  station  occupied  by  the  man  who  figures 
largely  in  the  letter,  when  entirely  forgetful  of  the  spirit 
and  temper  that  become  him,  ought  to  be  exposed.  I  will 
read  the  letter  on  my  own  responsibility." 

Mr.  Eldridge  then  read  as  follows :  — 

"  '  MY  DEAR  BROTHER  :  I  find  myself  under  the  necessity 
of  informing  you  that  I  have  concluded  not  to  go  to  the 
meeting  of  the  American  Board  week  after  next  as  I  had 
fondly  anticipated.  I  trust  it  will  not  make  any  differ- 
ence with  you.  I  have  come  to  this  decision  from  pru- 
dential reasons,  and  am  deeply  pained  and  mortified  at 
their  existence.  You  know  something  of  the  character 
of  my  people,  and  therefore  can  enter  into  my  feelings 
more  than  it  is  possible  for  a  stranger  to  do.  In  conver- 
sation with  one  of  my  deacons  a  few  days  since,  I  told 
him  that  I  hoped  he  could  make  it  convenient  to  see  that 
my  salary  for  the  last  quarter  was  soon  paid,  as  I  wanted 
some  money  to  go  on  a  journey  in  the  course  of  a  week  or 
two.  He  asked  me  where  I  was  intending  to  go..  I  re- 
plied that  I  was  desirous  of  being  at  the  meeting  of  the 
American  Board,  which  was  to  be  held  the  present  year 
at  New  York.  He  at  once  burst  out  in  a  perfect  rage  — 
you  know  he  is  a  very  irritable  and  passionate  man  and 
extremely  nervous  —  and  said,"  Mr.  Elton,  I  advise  you 
not  to  go,  if  you  mean  to  stay  here  as  our  minister.  Now, 


200  A  VOICE  FROM  THE   PARSONAGE. 

you  were  off  a  whole  week  in  May  attending  the  anniver- 
saries in  Boston,  and  then  you  were  off  again  at  the  meet- 
ing of  the  general  association  in  June  ;  and  a  good  many 
of  us  think  that  you  are  off  too  much  at  such  meetings. 
It  takes  a  good  deal  of  money  to  travel  so  much,  and  you 
ought  to  be  more  prudent.  If  you  have  more  money  than 
is  necessary  for  your  support,  you  ought  to  give  it  to  the 
society  to  help  pay  for  the  meeting  house.'7  After  this 
manner  he  expressed  himself  at  some  length.  I  attempted 
to  argue  the  matter  a  little  with  him,  setting  forth  the  in- 
terest manifested  by  many  of  our  people  in  hearing  my  re- 
port of  the  doings  of  the  board,  which  I  am  in  the  habit  of 
giving  the  Sabbath  following  its  annual  meeting,  and  like- 
wise that  my  health  required  the  relaxation  of  the  journey, 
and  that  my  enlarged  usefulness  to  my  people  demanded 
my  attendance  ;  but  all  to  no  purpose.  The  deacon  re- 
mained fixed  in  his  opposition  to  this  waste  of  time  and 
money,  as  he  termed  it,  and  remarked  that  others  in  the 
parish  coincided  with  him  in  feeling.  So  I  have  con- 
cluded to  remain  at  home  and  humor  the  man  this  time. 
I  deeply  regret  that  there  can  be  found  in  this  enlightened 
age  of  the  church  a  deacon  so  much  lost  to  all  that  per- 
tains to  the  usefulness  of  the  pastor  and  the  enlarged  good 
of  the  people  as  to  manifest  the  feelings  I  have  now  de- 
scribed. If  there  be  others  among  my  people  who  sympa- 
thize with  him  in  opposition  to  my  going  to  such  meetings 
as  that  of  the  American  Board,  I  have  no  doubt  that  he  is 
the  cause.  I  shall  doubtless  have  more  knowledge  on  this 
subject  by  and  by,  as  there  will  be  many  inquiries  made 
for  my  reasons  in  not  going  this  year  to  the  meeting  of 
this  missionary  body.' " 

"There,  brother,"  said  Mr.  Eldridge,  "what  do  you 
think  of  that  letter  ?  " 

"  Think  ?    I  hardly  know  what  to  think,"  he  replied.     "  I 


A  BROTHER'S  TROUBLE.  201 

pity  brother  Elton  from  the  very  bottom  of  my  heart  for 
being  nnder  the  necessity  of  having  such  a  deacon  in  his 
church." 

"  The  deacon  does  not  seem  to  realize  that  his  pastor 
needs  influences  from  beyond  the  parish  for  his  extended 
usefulness,"  Mr.  Eldridge  observed.  "He  does  not  ap- 
pear to  understand  that  his  pastor  is  really  engaged  in. 
seeking  ways  and  means  of  usefulness  when  he  attends  the 
anniversaries  in  Boston  or  New  York  or  the  meeting  of 
the  American  Board." 

"  No,"  said  the  agent.  "  I  think  the  soul  of  this  deacon 
is  in  a  most  melancholy  condition.  Were  he  in  the  exer- 
cise of  true  Christian  feeling,  he  would  at  once  perceive 
what  excitements  to  zeal  and  what  encouragement  to  re- 
newed labors  his  pastor  would  have  after  mingling  with  a 
great  body  of  Christians  who  are  deeply  interested  in  the 
progress  of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom." 

"  It  is  strange  a  people  will  be  so  unwise,"  said  Mr.  El- 
dridge ;  "  but  so  it  is.  Brother  Elton  is  a  devoted  pastor 
and  a  most  diligent  student.  He  feels  the  need  of  these 
meetings,  both  as  a  stimulus  and  as  means  of  relaxation. 
He  rarely  exchanges,  and  is  at  home  most  of  his  time,  la- 
boring for  the  advancement  of  his  people  in  all  Christian 
virtues.  I  shall  pity  some  of  his  good  people  ;  for  I  have 
often  heard  them  say  that  they  always  were  glad  when 
Mr.  Elton  could  be  abroad  in  attendance  on  the  various 
anniversaries  of  the  church,  because  he  was  so  free  to  com- 
municate the  knowledge  he  obtained.  As  he  has  a  very 
retentive  memory,  they  feel  that  his  reports  make  them 
about  as  well  acquainted  with  what  is  said  and  done  at 
these  meetings  as  they  would  have  been  had  they  been 
present  themselves." 

"I  am  acquainted  with  no  better  way  for  having  the 
missionary  spirit  infused  into  a  people  than  for  the  pastor 
to  attend  the  annual  meetings  of  the  board,"  the  agent 


202  A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

remarked.  "  He  both  hears  and  sees  there  what  he  would 
not  otherwise  know  ;  and  he  acquires  an  unction,  &  mission- 
ary unction,  which  often  endures  for  months.  I  am  ac- 
quainted with  a  large  number  of  brethren  who  say  they 
will  not  allow  ordinary  obstacles  to  prevent  their  attend- 
ance upon  our  meetings.  They  say  they  there  acquire  an 
interest  in  missions  which  is  a  most  invaluable  help  to 
them  in  sustaining  the  monthly  concerts." 

"  I  trust  that  there  are  but  few  of  the  brethren  who  are 
prevented  from  attending  such  meetings  by  reasons  such 
as  Mr.  Elton  assigns,"  Mr.  Eldridge  continued. 

"I  am  not  aware  that  I  ever  before  heard  of  a  brother 
being  opposed  in  this  manner  by  a  deacon" said  the  agent ; 
"  but  I  have  often  heard  ministers  lament  that  some  of 
their  people  complained  of  them  for  spending  so  much 
money  in  being  away  at  the  meetings  of  the  board  and 
others  of  a  kindred  character." 

"I  dare  say,"  Mr.  Eldridge  observed,  " there  are  some 
minds  which  cannot  appreciate  the  situation  of  a  minister 
• — his  mental  wants  —  his  heart  wants  —  the  need  he  has 
of  stimulus  and  encouragement.  There  are  many  indi- 
viduals who  suppose  it  to  be  the  easiest  task  to  write  a 
sermon  —  that  all  a  minister  has  to  do  is  to  take  his  pen 
and  perform  the  mere  manual  labor  of  using  it.  They  do 
not  consider  that  any  previous  study  is  necessary.  How 
he  can  be  aided  in  this  work  by  spending  a  week  abroad 
in  attendance  upon  the  meetings  of  our  benevolent  socie- 
ties is  to  them  a  mystery.  Many  parishioners  appear  to 
think  that  we  ministers  go  to  such  occasions  for  our  own 
enjoyment  only.  It  never  enters  their  minds  that  we  are 
moved  and  induced  almost  entirely  to  such  attendance  by 
our  great  desires  to  be  to  them  of  the  most  advantage  — 
that  we  go  to  the  anniversaries  and  to  the  meetings  of  the 
American  Board  on  the  same  principle  and  from  the  same 
motives  ivhich  send  us  into  our  study  ;  viz:.,  to  be  prepared 


A  BROTHER'S  TROUBLE.  203 

to  serve  Mem  with  more  fidelity,  acceptance,  and  profit. 
This  contractedness  of  soul,  which  would  tie  up  a  pastor 
to  his  own  parish  the  year  in  and  the  year  out  to  satisfy 
the  people  that  their  hired  servant  has  not  run  off,  and  is 
not  wasting  their  money  and  their  time  too,  I  wish  might 
not  exist.  It  cannot  be,  when  professors  of  religion  urge 
such  reasons,  that  they  have  much  Christian  feeling.  How 
can  they  have  any  desires  for  the  spread  of  the  gospel 
and  the  conversion  of  the  heathen  when  they  are  not 
willing  to  allow  their  pastor  to  employ  the  most  valuable 
means,  which  are  alone  found  in  these  anniversary  meet- 
ings, for  equipping  himself  fully  for  his  great  and  arduous 
work  ?  Were  not  the  flame  of  godliness  flickering  in  the 
heart,  it  appears  to  me,  we  should  not  hear  of  any  such 
opposition." 

"  Your  remarks,"  said  the  agent,  "  make  me  think  of  a 
people  in  Vermont  who  are  what  may  be  called  a  '  peculiar 
people,  zealous  of  good  works.'  I  was  with  them  about 
six  months  since,  and  passed  a  few  days  with  the  greatest 
pleasure.  They  were  all  alive  to  the  condition  of  the 
heathen,  and  have  for  some  years  past  contributed  nobly 
to  our  treasury.  I  ascertained  that  this  interest  was  ex- 
cited mainly  by  the  narrative  of  the  pastor  of  the  doings 
of  the  board  and  the  speeches  which  were  made  at  its 
anniversary  meetings.  I  found  they  were  in  the  habit  of 
remembering  the  annual  meeting  in  their  prayer  meetings 
for  weeks  before  it  was  to  occur,  and  that  of  late  years  it  has 
been  their  practice  to  make  up  a  purse  to  encourage  their 
pastor  to  attend.  The  flame  of  godliness,  I  assure  you, 
burns  brightly  up  that  way.  The  church  there  is  one  of 
the  most  energetic  and  prosperous  churches  in  our  land." 

"  I  am  most  happy  to  hear  of  such  a  bright  example  of 
Christian  activity,"  Mr.  Eldridge  remarked.  "  I  very  much 
wish  it  might  be  extensively  followed,  and  that  those  in  our 
churches  who  would  interpose  obstacles  to  the  attendance 


204  A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

of  their  pastors  on  the  meetings  of  our  benevolent  socie- 
ties might  feel  themselves  rebuked  by  it.  I  dare  say  that 
Vermont  pastor  has  a  light  heart  and  goes  on  his  way 
rejoicing.  As  he  goes  forth  bearing  precious  seed,  he  can- 
not feel  that  there  may  be  many  of  his  people  who  will 
trample  it  down  to  prevent  it  springing  up  and  bearing 
fruit." 

"  No,  no,"  said  the  agent ;  "  the  good  Vermont  brother 
feels  that  his  people  water  where  he  plants,  and  that  they 
are  equally  interested  with  himself  in  the  success  of  his 
labors." 

"  His  joy  at  the  judgment  as  well  as  the  joy  of  his 
people  must  be  rich,"  Mr.  Eldridge  continued,  "  when  he 
appears  before  the  righteous  Judge,  saying,  '  Lord,  here  I 
am  arid  the  children  which  thou  hast  given  me.'  I  could 
wish  brother  Elton's  deacon  might  think  of  that  great 
day.  If  he  is  not  careful,  I  am  afraid  he  will  not  be  found 
among  the  number  when  the  brother  shall  present  his 
children." 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 

ANOTHER  PHASE  OF  PASTOEAL  LIFE. 

THE  health  of  the  good  wife  of  Squire  Davidson  having 
*  been  for  some  time  in  a  very  precarious  state,  it  became 
necessary  to  seek  its  restoration  and  her  comfort  in  travel- 
ling. Consequently  she  was  much  away  from  home,  some- 
times on  a  long  journey  and  at  other  times  on  a  short  ex- 
cursion. The  last  winter  she  passed  at  the  south  with  her 
children  in  Virginia,  and  returned  in  April  somewhat  im- 
proved in  health,  though  by  no  means  out  of  danger  from 
that  insidious  disease,  so  common  at  the  north,  that  con- 
signs numberless  victims  to  the  last  resting-place  of  man. 
She  had  not  been  at  home  many  weeks  before  she  was 
admonished  of  the  need  of  another  journey  ;  and  her  hus- 
band, having  important  business  to  transact  in  Greenfield, 
some  seventy  miles  distant  from  their  residence,  proposed  to 
her  to  take  an  excursion  thither.  It  was  now  the  commence- 
ment of  the  beautiful  month  of  June,  and  it  was  first 
decided  that  they  would  set  off  the  next  week  ;  but  the 
suggestion  being  made  by  aunt  Sarah,  who  was  rapidly 
verging  towards  that  bourn  from  whence  none  return, 
that  the  anniversary  of  her  pastor's  settlement  would 
occur  on  the  next  week,  Mrs.  Davidson  said  she  could 
not  possibly  forego  the  pleasure  of  hearing  Mr.  Eldridge's 
anniversary  discourse.  She  had  already  heard  fourteen 
such  sermons  from  him,  and  perhaps  she  might  not  live  to 
18  (206) 


206         A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

hear  another  should  she  be  absent  when  the  fifteenth  was 
delivered.  Accordingly  it  was  not  till  the  'Monday  fol- 
lowing this  event  that  the  squire  and  his  wife  left  home 
for  Greenfield.  Not  being  in  any  measure  urged  to 
rapidity  in  their  movements,  —  indeed,  the  health  of  Mrs. 
Davidson  absolutely  interdicted  this,  —  they  did  not  reach 
their  destined  town  until  the  following  Thursday. 

Having  completed  his  business  at  an  earlier  period  than 
was  anticipated,  the  squire  proposed  to  vary  their  route 
homeward  for  the  purpose  of  passing  the  Sabbath  with  a 
much-esteemed  clerical  friend,  Mr.  Willy,  who  was  settled 
in  Stanly.  The  suggestion  was  very  pleasant  to  Mrs.  Da- 
vidson, as  she  had  long  been  wishing  to  redeem  a  pledge 
made  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Willy  of  a  visit.  Accordingly, 
after  dinner  on  Friday,  the  squire  directed  his  course  to- 
wards Stanly,  at  which  place  he  arrived  on  the  following 
afternoon  long  before  the  sun  was  shaded  in  the  west. 
Their  reception  at  the  parsonage  was  the  more  gratifying 
because  it  was  so  very  unexpected.  Many  a  time  had  the 
wish  been  expressed  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Willy  that  they  might 
have  the  pleasure  of  a  visit  from  them  ;  for  the  remem- 
brance of  the  days  they  passed  a  few  years  before  under 
their  most  hospitable  roof  had  afforded  them  at  many 
intervals  since  the  most  lively  satisfaction.  They  were 
anxious  for  an  opportunity  to  attempt  the  reciprocation 
of  their  kindness,  and  indulged  the  hope  that  such  a 
desire  might  be  gratified  ;  but  perhaps  they  were  not  very 
strong  in.  the  faith  that  such  desire  would  be  realized, 
as  they  were  well  aware  how  very  large  was  the  circle  of 
their  friends  who  moved  in  the  same  elevated  sphere  in 
which  a  kind  Providence  had  placed  them.  Not  because 
Squire  Davidson  was  accounted  an  aristocrat,  and  could 
find  no  enjoyment  in  the  humble  abode  of  a  country  cler- 
gyman in  a  secluded  territory,  was  the  faith  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Willy  slender  that  they  should  one  day  have  them  as 


ANOTHER  PHASE  OP   PASTORAL  LIFE.  207 

their  guests.  Far  from  this.  Though  very  wealthy,  and 
though  he  and  his  family  moved  in  several  cities  in  the 
highest  grade  of  society,  yet  there  was  not  the  first  feeling 
in  the  heart  of  Squire  Davidson  and  wife  that  begat  in 
them  the  sentiment  that  they  were  in  the  least  descending 
when  they  were  in  the  company  of  any  of  their  Christian 
friends  who  lived,  not  for  this  world  alone,  but  for  a 
higher,  a  purer  state.  Because  their  presence  among 
the  hills  of  Stanly  and  in  the  parsonage  of  its  people 
surely  evinced  an  interest  which,  perhaps,  could  not  have 
been  more  strongly  expressed  in  the  occupants  of  this 
parsonage,  did  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Willy  greatly  rejoice  when 
they  welcomed  them  to  their  door. 

Stanly  was  not  a  very  remarkable  place.  Seldom  was 
a  carriage  seen  passing  through  the  town  that  was  not 
recognized  as  belonging  either  to  some  of  its  inhabitants 
or  as  coming  from  an  adjacent  territory.  "When,  there- 
fore, the  squire  rode  up  to  Mr.  Willy's  with  his  large 
gray  horse  in  an  elegantly  sparkling  harness,  and  attached 
to  a  splendid  chaise,  the  little  folks  within,  of  whom  there 
were  six  boys,  were  in  no  little  commotion.  There  was 
ejaculation  among  them  and  wonderment.  Such  an  estab- 
lishment, perhaps,  they  had  never  before  seen.  True, 
Colonel  Hollis  and  Captain  Handy  had  covered  wagons  ; 
but  most  of  the  carriages  which  moved  in  their  vicinity 
were  of  the  ruder  sort,  without  any  top,  either  of  canvas 
or  leather.  The  little  hands ^were  so  busy  with  the  differ- 
ent parts  and  trappings  of  the  harness,  and  the  questions 
to  papa  were  so  many  about  this  and  that,  as  retarded 
Mr.  Willy  somewhat  in  disencumbering  the  steed  and  in 
securing  the  chaise  under  cover.  At  last,  however,  the 
task  was  accomplished,  and,  divesting  himself  of  his 
working  frock,  put  on  always  for  service  like  this,  Mr. 
Willy  was  in  the  parlor  with  his  distinguished  guests. 
Mrs.  Willy  thereupon  left  the  room  for  the  labor  of 


208  A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

preparing  tea,  which,  perhaps,  would  have  been  less  perplex- 
ing and  sooner  accomplished  if  she  had  not  been  a  pastor's 
wife,  but  that  of  a  mechanic  or  farmer,  or  even  of  a  common 
day  laborer,  who  was  promptly  paid  for  his  services.  Pay 
day  had  not  been  recently  in  her  husband's  parish ;  and 
many  articles  which  would  have  been  in  the  house,  out  of 
which  a  respectable  supper  could  be  prepared,  had  such  a 
day  not  been  very  remote,  were  not  there.  A  little  flour 
had  been  saved  from  the  barrel  presented  by  an  unknown 
friend  some  four  months  before,  and  from  this  the  good 
wife  proceeded  to  make  some  biscuit ;  but  as  for  cake  or 
pies,  alas  I  Mrs.  Willy  longed  most  wistfully  for  the  means 
of  making  them  ;  but  the  country  parsonage  was,  and  had 
been  for  a  long  time,  unblessed  with  them.  Whilst  thus 
perplexed  and  mortified,  she  involuntarily  burst  forth  with 
saying,  "  I  declare,  I  only  wish  some  of  our  people  were 
here  now  who  say  so  much  about  the  good  living  of 
their  minister  and  the  easy  task  of  his  wife  ;  I  rather  think 
they  would  alter  their  opinions  somewhat.  I  guess  they 
would  find  that  we  did  not  live  on  the  fat  of  the  land.". , 
However,  checking  her  impatience  and  murmuring,  she 
proceeded  to  her  work,  made  her  biscuit,  spread  her  table, 
using  the  cloth,  china,  and  other  table  furniture  which  be- 
longed to  the  outfit  her  father  gave  her  at  her  marriage. 
She  drew  from  the  oven  the  baked  beans  and  brown  bread, 
and  presently  announced  to  her  husband  and  friends  that 
tea  was  waiting.  When  all  were  seated  at  the  table,  and 
as  Mrs.  Willy  was  pouring  the  tea,  she  discovered  the 
absence  of  her  best  sugar  bowl.  Calling  to  her  child,  she 
asked  him  to  go  into  the  parlor  and  bring  it  out.  The 
child  obeyed,  and,  returning,  said  there  was  nothing  in  it. 
This  announcement  crimsoned  the  face  of  the  mother  ;  for 
she  well  knew  that,  if  there  was  no  sugar  there,  the  house 
did  not  afford  the  article. 

"  I  really  thought  there  was  sugar  there,"  Mrs.  Willy 


ANOTHER  PHASE   OF  PASTORAL  LIFE.  209 

remarked.    "  Well,  I  hope  our  friends  will  excuse  us  if  we 
help  them  to  brown  sugar." 

"  0,  certainly,"  Mrs.  Davidson  replied.  "  "We  are  not 
at  all  particular." 

"Your  acquaintance  with  the  circumstances  of  minis- 
ters, squire,"  Mr.  Willy  observed,  "  has  doubtless  led 
you  to  feel  that  they  often  have  to  do  as  they  can,  and  not 
as  they  would." 

"  I  am  sorry."  said  the  squire,  "  that  the  churches  will 
allow  it ;  but  it  is  a  most  melancholy  consideration,  that 
often  the  greatest  injustice  is  done  to  the  clergy,  both  in 
deficiency  of  compensation  and  in  the  great  irregularity  in 
the  payment  of  their  paltry  salaries.  I  could  wish  it  were 
otherwise  ;  for  no  class  in  the  community  are  entitled  to 
better  compensation  than  ministers." 

"  I  really  wish,"  said  Mrs.  Willy,  "  that  some  of  our 
people  could  hear  you  make  remarks  like  this,  as  it  of  tea 
comes  to  our  ears  that  they  think  Mr.  Willy  has  too  large 
a  salary." 

"  How  much  has  he  ?  "  Mrs.  Davidson  inquired. 

"  Only  four  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  ;  and  that  is  very 
tardily  paid,"  Mrs.  Willy  said.  "They  are  now  owing 
two  hundred  dollars  for  the  last  year,  which  closed  in 
February,  and  we  have  had  but  about  thirty  dollars  from 
them  on  the  first  quarter  of  the  present  year." 

"  How  do  your  people  think  you  can  get  along,  Mr. 
Willy,"  the  squire  asked,  "  if  they  are  so  dilatory  in 
paying  you  your  salary?" 

"  0,  I  do-  not  know  as  they  think  at  all  on  the  subject," 
Mr.  Willy  replied.  "I  have  a  little  land,  and  perhaps 
they  think  that  I  can  raise  enough  from  that  to  live  upon." 

"  Well,  it  is  unjust  for  them  to  withhold  from  you  your 
due,"  said  the  squire,  "even  if  your  land  does  produce 
enough  to  support  your  family,  which  I  presume  is  not 
the  case." 

18* 


210  A  VOICE  FROM  THE   PARSONAGE. 

"  Far  from  it,"  said  Mr.  Willy.  "  I  have  not  more  than 
twelve  acres,  and  seven  of  that  is  fit  only  for  pasture. 
I  can  keep  one  cow  and  horse  only  ;  and  I  never  plant 
much  more  than  a  single  acre." 

Tea  being  over,  and  the  squire  and  his  wife  having 
gone  back  to  the  parlor,  Mrs.  Willy  stopped  her  husband, 
who  was  following  them,  and  detained  him  a  while  in  the 
room  where  the  tea  table  stood,  to  deliberate  upon  the 
state  of  the  pantry. 

"  What  shall  we  do,  husband  ?  We  have  no  more  flour 
in  the  house.  The  last  two  quarts,  which  I  have  carefully 
kept  for  these  three  weeks  for  an  emergency,  I  have  used 
for  the  biscuit  we  had  for  tea.  We  have  no  fresh  meat, 
you  know  ;  no  white  sugar,  and  but  little  of  brown  ;  no 
pies,  nor  any  thing  to  make  them  of ;  and  here  we  are, 
with  these  rich  people  with  us  to  stay  over  the  Sabbath, 
and  perhaps  longer  1 " 

"  I  will  go  right  away,  my  dear,  to  Deacon  Foster  and 
borrow  of  him  five  dollars,  and  will  go  to  the  store  and 
the  butcher's  and  get  a  supply.  Deacon  Foster,  you  know, 
always  has  a  little  money  by  him,  and  he  has  often  told 
me  that  he  would  share  the  last  dollar  with  me  if  it  were 
necessary  for  our  comfort  or  convenience." 

"  I  know  that,  husband,  and  I  thought  there  was  no 
other  way  for  you  to  do  but  to  go  to  him.  He  will  un- 
derstand the  case,  and  so  will  his  wife." 

Returning  to  the  parlor,  Mr.  Willy  sat  a  while  con- 
versing with  his  friends  until  Mrs..  Willy  had  completed 
the  task  which  always  falls  to  the  wife,  in  the  absence  of  a 
daughter  or  maid,  after  a  meal.  When  she  appeared,  her 
husband  excused  himself  from  the  circle  by  saying  that  he 
had  a  little  business  to  transact  which  would  oblige  him 
to  be  absent  for  a  short  time. 

As  we  are  now  to  follow  him  to  the  house  of  his  good 
deacon,  it  may  be  interesting  to  the  reader  to  know  more 


ANOTHEE  PHASE  OF  PASTORAL  LIFE.  211 

of  the  man  from  whom  he  was  sure  of  receiving  important 
aid  in  this  the  pastor's  time  of  need.  Deacon  Foster  can- 
not be  set  forth  as  a  man  remarkable  either  for  general 
intelligence,  or  refinement  of  manners,  or  greatness  of 
wealth  ;  for,  though  "  a  good  liver,"  his  farm  and  stock  — • 
which  were  neither  extensive  —  constituted  all  his  proper- 
ty. Having  always  lived  where  his  pastor  found  h*m,  and 
never  been  thirty  miles  from  home  in  his  life  of  sixty  years, 
his  intercourse  with  the  world  would  not  very  materially 
enlarge  his  mind  or  improve  his  manners.  The  authors 
with  Avhom  he  was  most  familiar  were  greatly  antiquated  ; 
but,  because  they  treated  of  subjects  which  for  some  reason 
or  other  interested  him  more  than  all  others,  he  chose  to 
devote  what  leisure  time  he  had — which  was  not  much 
on  the  weekdays  —  to  them  almost  exclusively.  These 
authors  were  such  men  as  Moses,  and  Joshua,  and  David, 
and  Solomon,  Jeremiah,  Isaiah,  Matthew,  Mark,  Luke, 
John,  and  Paul.  He  read  them  and  pondered  what  they 
wrote  so  much  as  to  have  his  mind  and  heart  very  much 
imbued  with  their  spirit ;  and,  because  of  this,  he  most 
nobly  filled  the  important  office  in  the  church  which  gave 
him  the  title  of  deacon.  All  thought  that  he  was  a  fit 
man  for  a  deacon  because  the  Bible  had  so  much  to  do  with 
his  thoughts  and  his  conduct.  Somehow  or  other,  there 
was  no  craftiness  about  him,  nor  overreaching,  nor  hy- 
pocrisy. His  face  on  the  Sabbath  was  no  longer  than  on 
other  days  ;  and  he  was,  withal,  bound  up  in  his  pastor 
and  in  ministers  in  general  ;  and  the  impression  very 
generally  prevailed  that  he  was  thus  singular  because  he 
read  the  Bible  so  much  and  was  so  careful  to  practise 
what  he  read. 

After  a  ride  of  some  ten  minutes  the  pastor  of  Stanly 
was  at  the  door  of  this  good  deacon,  which,  in  answer  to 
his  knock,  was  soon  opened  by  a  lady  whose  countenance 
was  the  personification  of  goodness,  and  was  therefore 


212  A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

every  way  worthy  to  be  the  companion  of  the  man  whom 
all  the  community  around  had  long  called  the  good  deacon. 

"  We  are  very  glad  to  see  you,  'Mr.  Willy,"  Mrs.  Fos- 
ter remarked.  "  Mr.  Foster  and  I  have  just  been  talking 
about  you  ;  and  he  is  getting  ready  to  go  to  your  house,  I 
believe.  You've  got  some  company,  have  you  not,  Mr. 
Willy  ?" 

"  What  makes  you  ask  that  question,  my  good  woman  ?  " 
inquired  the  pastor. 

"  0,"  she  replied,  "  neighbor  Porter  was  here  about  two 
hours  ago,  and  he  told  us  he  saw  you  taking  out  a  very 
beautiful  horse  from  a  grand  carriage  as  he  passed  your 
house  this  afternoon.  We  thought  it  was  likely  some  of 
your  friends  had  come  to  spend  the  Sabbath  with  you." 

"  Well,  it  is  even  so,"  Mr.  Willy  observed.  "  We  have 
been  taken  altogether  by  surprise  by  two  of  the  best  peo- 
ple on  the  earth  ;  and,  what  is  a  little  unfortunate,  we 
have  but  very  little  in  the  house  wherewith  we  can  de- 
cently entertain  them.  For  this  reason  I  have  come  down 
here  to  see  the  deacon  and  get  a  little  help." 

"  We  have  been  talking  about  this  since  neighbor  Por- 
ter was  here,"  Mrs.  Foster  observed.  "  I  told  my  hus- 
band I  was  afraid  your  wife  would  not  be  prepared  for 
company,  and  I  said  to  him  he  must  go  up  there  to-night 
and  see  you." 

"  You  are  a  very  thoughtful  woman,"  observed  Mr.  Wil- 
ly ;  "  and  I  am  much  obliged  to  you  for  your  considera- 
tion." 

"  It  is  too  bad  that  our  people  are  so  backward  about 
paying  the  salary,"  Mrs.  Foster  said. 

"  It  is  very  unfortunate  for  us,"  Mr.  Willy  remarked. 
"  I  should  not  have  been  down  here  to-night  in  this  anx- 
ious state  of  mind  if  I  only  had  my  salary  paid  with  any 
decent  promptness.  Where  is  your  husband  ?  " 

"  He  is  out  to  the  barn  dressing  a  calf.    When  he  heard 


ANOTHER  PHASE  OF  PASTORAL  LIFE.  213 

that  you  had  company,  he  said  he  would  kill  the  calf  im- 
mediately, and  not  wait  till  next  week,  as  he  was  calcu- 
lating to  do.  He  thought  the  leg  of  veal  he  was  intend- 
ing to  give  you  might  be  as  acceptable  at  this  time  as  at 
any  other." 

This  announcement  was  too  much  for  the  sensitive  na- 
ture of  the  pastor,  and,  overcome  with  emotion,  he  had  to 
rise  and  turn  his  face  to  the  window  to  conceal  the  tears 
which  were  trickling  down  his  face.  "  0,"  thought  he, 
whilst  brushing  away  the  tears,  "  if  all  my  people,  or  but  a 
small  part  of  them,  felt  as  this  family  feel  for  their  minister, 
what  a  load  of  care  and  anxiety  would  be  removed  and 
what  strong  encouragement  there  would  be  to  labor  hard 
for  their  good !  How  freely  I  would  study  and  how  cheer- 
fully labor!" 

"  I  believe,"  said  Mr.  Willy,  "  I  will  go  out  to  the  barn 
and  see  your  husband." 

"  He  is  coming  in,  sir  ;  I  hear  his  steps,"  said  Mrs. 
Foster. 

Presently  the  door  opened,  and  the  good  deacon  ap- 
peared with  a  fine  leg  of  veal  in  his  hand,  and,  as  he  laid 
it  down  on  the  table,  humorously  said,  after  welcoming 
his  pastor, — 

"  You  did  not  hear  the  pig  squeal,  did  you,  Mr.  Willy  ?  " 

The  pastor,  comprehending  the  significance  of  the  re- 
mark, (what  minister  of  a  few  years  could  not?)  good 
naturedly  said,  — 

"  My  ears  have  not  been  greeted  by  such  a  sound  ;  if 
they  had  been,  I  should  have  been  tempted,  within  the 
last  few  hours,  to  have  followed  the  direction  of  the  noise, 
I  confess.  Deacon,  I  have  come  down  here  to  say  to  you 
that  I  have  got  company  at  my  house,  and  nothing  for 
them  to  eat  but  pork  and  beans  and  brown  bread  ;  and 
I  want  to  borrow  five  dollars  to  go  to  the  store  and  get  a 
supply." 


214  A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

"  Yes,  yes,"  said  the  deacon  ;  "  I  was  afraid  so.  I  heard 
you  had  company,  and  was  going  up  to  see  you.  You  may 
have  the  five  dollars ;  but  perhaps  it  won't  be  necessary 
for  you  to  go  to  the  store  to-night.  Mrs.  Foster,  have  you 
got  the  basket  ready  ?  " 

"  0,  yes,"  the  good  woman  said.  "  Mr.  Willy,  I  told 
you  my  husband  was  going  up  to  your  house  with  a  leg  of 
veal  ;  and  I  have  put  into  a  basket  two  loaves  of  white 
bread,  and  some  cake,  and  half  a  dozen  pies.  Now,  if 
there  is  any  thing  else  that  you  want,  if  we  have  got  them, 
you  are  welcome  to  them.  They  are  your  due  from  the 
parish." 

"As  the  deacon  has  loaned  me  five  dollars,"  said  Mr. 
Willy,  "  I  guess  I'll  go  to  the  store." 

"  What  are  you  going  there  for  ?  "  asked  the  deacon. 
"  Do  tell ;  for  it  is  some  way  there,  and  I  don't  want  you 
to  go  if  it  is  not  necessary.  I  want  you  to  save  your 
money  for  some  other  time." 

"  Well,  to  be  frank,  I  was  going  to  get  some  flour,  and 
some  meat,  and  some  white  sugar.  The  meat,  through 
your  kindness,  I  shall  not  have  to  get,  and  the  bread  will 
last  till  Monday  ;  but  we  have  no  white  sugar,  and  but  a 
little  of  any  kind." 

"  You  need  not  go  to  the  store,"  Mrs.  Foster  said.  "  I 
will  get  you  some  sugar." 

The  clean  napkin  was  soon  withdrawn  from  the  new 
bushel  basket,  which  had  never  before  been  used,  and  there 
was  just  space  enough  left  to  admit  two  papers  of  sugar 
which  the  good  woman  had  carefully  put  up.  The  cloth 
was  then  tied  down,  and  the  deacon  took  the  basket  to  the 
wagon  of  his  pastor  and  gently  laid  it  therein.  Returning 
to  the  house,  the  pastor,  in  the  overflowing  of  his  heart, 
thanked  both  him  and  his  wife  for  their  very  acceptable 
donations,  and,  taking  from  his  pocket  his  wallet,  handed 
back  the  five  dollars  he  had  but  a  few  moments  before 


ANOTHER  PHASE   OF   PASTORAL  LIFE.  215 

received  from  the  deacon,  saying  he  should  not  need  it 
now. 

"  Well,"  said  the  deacon,  "  you  are  very  welcome  to  it. 
I  shall  not  take  it.  You  ought  to  be  with  money  in  your 
pocket ;  and  I  mean  to  make  some  stir  in  the  parish  now 
that  I  think  will  make  the  people  pay  up.  It  is  wicked 
that  things  should  be  so.  They  can't  agree  to  give  half 
what  they  are  able  ;  and  it  is  a  shame  that  they  don't  pay 
up  the  little  they  agree  to  give." 

Mr.  Willy,  touched  in  every  part  of  his  soul  by  the 
tender,  generous  impulses  of  both  the  deacon  and  his  wife, 
which  led  him  to  feel  how  well  they  appreciated  the  situ- 
ation of  their  pastor,  was  soon  on  his  way  to  his  home. 
Twilight  had  nearly  gone  as  he  rode  into  his  yard.  As 
he  was  taking  his  horse  from  the  wagon  the  squire  came 
out,  and,  noticing  a  new  basket  therein,  remarked,  he 
was  afraid  his  friend  had  been  put  to  some  inconvenience 
by  having  company  come  in  so  unexpectedly. 

"  I  suppose  you  have  been  to  the  store,  Mr.  Willy  ?  as  I 
see  you  have  a  new  basket  in  your  wagon." 

"  No,  sir.  I  have  been  prevented  from  going  by  the 
generosity  of  one  of  my  deacons." 

"  Well,  I  am  glad  you  have  some  green  spots  in  your 
field,"  said  the  squire.  "  They  are  very  refreshing  to  a 
pastor's  heart." 

" I  have  got  but  one  such  spot"  Mr.  Willy  said,  "  in  my 
territory  ;  and  I  have  been  to  that  to-night." 

"  Better  have  one  than  none,"  the  squire  remarked. 
"  Some  pastors  that  I  know  have  but  an  arid  plain  for 
their  field." 

."Yes,  yes.  I  know  that,  squire.  It  is  but  a  poor 
reward  that  most  ministers  get  in  this  world." 

"  The  riches  are  to  come,  then,"  the  squire  observed. 

"  That  is  all  the  consolation  and  encouragement  which 
the  great  body  of  the  clergy  have,"  Mr.  Willy  said. 


216         A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

The  pastor's  horse  was  now  in  his  stall,  and  the  wagon 
under  cover,  and  the  large  basket  was  taken  right  into 
the  room  where  Mrs.  Willy  and  Mrs.  Davidson  were  sit- 
ting ;  and,  as  it  was  laid  down  by  the  feet  of  the  former, 
Mr.  Willy  said,— 

"  There,  wife ;  there  is  a  present  from  Deacon  Foster." 

"  As  you  have  brought  in  the  basket  here,  I  suppose  you 
intend  that  I  shall  open  it  at  once/'  Mrs.  Willy  replied. 
So  with  her  scissors  she  cut  the  cord  which  confined  the 
covering  and  proceeded  to  take  out  the  contents.  As  she 
took  the  two  papers  Mr.  Willy  observed,  "  That  is  white 
and  brown  sugar,  I  suppose."  "And  there,"  said  Mrs. 
Willy,  "  are  two  loaves  —  what  large  ones !  — •  of  white 
bread ;  and  here  are  two,  four,  six  pies."  "  And  here," 
said  Mr.  Willy,  catching  up  the  other,  —  "  here  is  a  large 
leg  of  veal." 

"  Very  acceptable  and  very  opportune  are  all  these 
articles,"  Mrs.  Willy  remarked.  "Now,  to  tell  the  truth, 
Mrs.  Davidson,  we  have  pretty  nigh  run  ashore  for  eat- 
ables except  of  the  ruder  kind,  and  these  articles  are  just 
what  we  need.  I  remarked  at  tea,  you  know,  that  our 
salary  was  not  paid  very  promptly  ;  and  we  have  had  to 
live  of  late  almost  any  how.  It  is  very  trying ;  but 
so  it  is." 

"There  is  not  all,"  Mr.  Willy  remarked.  "The  deacon 
gave  me  a  five-dollar  bill.  'Tis  true  Ixwent  down  there 
expressly  to  borrow  the  amount  for  the  purpose  of  going 
to  the  store  and  the  butcher's ;  but  they  had  anticipated 
our  wants  in  part  and  insisted  on  knowing  all  ;  and  thus 
I  have  been  prevented  from  going  farther.  They  had 
heard  that  we  had  company  ;  and  the  deacon,  intending  to 
kill  a  calf  the  beginning  of  next  week  and  give  us  a  part, 
thought  he  would  not  wait,  but  killed  it  just  after  Mr.  Por- 
ter told  him  he  saw  me  taking  care  of  a  splendid  horse, 
and  was  intending  to  come  up  here  this  evening  with  the 


ANOTHER  PHASE   OF   PASTORAL  LIFE.  217 

veal,  and,  I  suppose,  the  bread  and  pies.  I  handed  him 
back  the  money  which  he  loaned  me ;  but  he  would  not 
take  it.  He  said  I  ought  not  to  be  without  money,  and  I 
was  very  welcome  to  the  five  dollars." 

"  The  deacon  and  his  wife  are  parishioners  worth  hav- 
ing," Mrs.  Willy  observed. 

"Well,  Mr.  Willy,  cannot  any  thing  be  done  to  get 
your  people  into  better  habits?"  the  squire  asked. 

"  A  change  might  be  effected,  I  think,"  said  Mrs.  Willy, 
"  if  husband  would  think  it  to  be  his  duty  to  make  a  little 
stir  about  their  delinquency  in  paying  the  salary.  It  is 
nothing  but  inconsidcration  on  the  part  of  the  people. 
They  are  an  able  people,  and  might  pay  double  what  they 
agree  to  pay  and  not  feel  it  at  all." 

"  I  never  like  to  say  much  about  my  salary,"  Mr.  Willy 
remarked ;  "  but  I  have  thought  for  some  time  past  that  I 
should  be  obliged  to  do  something.  But  perhaps  I  shall 
be  saved  that  necessity  now ;  for  the  deacon  told  me  he 
intended  to  make  an  effort  which  he  thought  would  bring 
the  people  to  their  senses." 

"I  have  been  telling  husband,"  Mrs.  Willy  said,  "  that 
he  ought  to  insist  on  having  another  hundred  dollars 
added  to  his  salary,  and  to  have  it  paid  promptly." 

"  That  would  be  unwise,  I  think,"  remarked  Mr.  Willy, 
"  to  ask  for  more  salary." 

"I  don't  think  so,"  the  wife  replied.  "The  parishes 
about  us  who  have  settled  ministers  lately  pay  six  and 
seven  hundred  dollars  now,  and  they  are  not  so  able  as 
our  parish  to  do  so.  I  presume,  if  we  should  leave  here, 
the  people  would  not  think  of  paying  less  than  seven 
hundred." 

"  I  have  no  doubt  of  that,"  Mr.  Willy  said  ;  "but  they 
only  agreed  to  give  me  four  hundred  at  first ;  and  I  ac- 
cepted the  salary." 

"But  times  have  changed,  you  know,  husband,  since 
10 


218  A  VOICE   FROM  THE 

you  were  settled.  Money  don't  go  so  far  now  as  it  did 
then." 

"  The  people  ought  to  think  of  this,  I  confess,"  said  Mr. 
Willy,  "  and  ought  to  come  up  unasked  and  pay  a  suita- 
ble salary  ;  but  it  would  be  unwise  in  me  to  insist  on  their 
doing  any  thing  more  than  fulfilling  their  agreement  with 
me  and  every  quarter  promptly  make  a  payment.'-./ 

"  That  is  a  fact,"  the  squire  remarked.  "  Parishes 
who  settled  pastors  years  ago,  when  the  means  of  living 
were  not  so  high  as  they  now  are  and  when  the  expenses 
of  the  clergy  were  not  so  many  as  at  the  present  time, 
ought  to  be  reminded  of  their  obligations  to  add  to  the 
compensation  of  their  ministers  by  the  consideration  that, 
were  they  now  to  settle  a  pastor,  they  would  be  obliged 
to  pay  a  much  larger  salary."  — V 

"  Certainly  it  is  but  justice  for  them  to  do  so,"  Mr. 
Willy  remarked.  "Because  I  was  fortunate  enough  to 
have  a  few  hundred  dollars  by  my  wife,  sufficient  to  pay 
for  the  place  where  I  now  live,  it  is  wrong  for  the  people 
to  think  that  I  shall  not  move  away  if  my  salary  is  not 
raised,  and  to  be  willing  that  I  should  have  a  less  sum 
than  what  they  know  they  would  be  obliged  to  pay 
another  minister." 

"  It  is  morally  wrong,  I  think,  to  treat  a  pastor  in  this 
way,"  the  squire  said  ;  "  and  I  cannot  believe  he  would  be 
thus  treated  if  the  people  would  only  consider  a  little  with 
the  Bible  in  their  hands." 

"  0,"  said  Mr.  Willy,  "  if  people  had  this  precious  book 
in  their  hands  more,  and  if  divine  truth  had  more  reflec- 
tion by  them,  ministers  would  never  have  any  reason  to 
complain.  If  all  the  people  were  like  good  Deacon  Fos- 
ter, what  blessed  times  these  would  be !  And  he  is  only 
what  the  Bible  has  made  him." 

The  evening  being  now  far  spent,  worship  was  ob- 
served, and  the  friends  separated  for  the  night. 


A  NEW  PHASE  OF  PASTORAL   LIFE.  219 

On  Monday  morning  the  squire  remarked, — 

"I  have  been  thinking  anew,  since  I  have  been  here, 
how  mucl\a  people  lost  by  cutting  short  a  pastor's  sup- 
port. When  a  minister  is  pinched  he  cannot  be  a  free 
man ;  he  cannot  study  with  his  whole  mind ;  he  cannot 
give  his  whole  heart  to  his  work.  He  -must  be  anxious, 
often  very  anxious,  about  his  family  ;  so  much  so  as  to  unfit 
him  for  duty." 

"There  is  too  much  truth  in  that,  squire,"  Mr.  Willy 
remarked.  "I  know  all  about  it  from  much  deep  and 
bitter  experience." 

"  Now,  your  people,"  the  squire  said,  "  you  have  told  me, 
were  all  well  off,  and  there  are  some  hundred  families  of 
them  ;  they  ought  to  be  ashamed  of  themselves  to  treat 
you  as  they  do.  They  ought  to  pay  promptly  your  salary, 
and  to  give  you  at  least  seven  hundred  dollars.  They 
make  a  very  respectable  congregation,  I  see.  They  have 
a  fine  house  for  a  sanctuary  ;  and  really  they  ought  to  be 
mortified  that  they  do  not  handsomely  support  you  and 
a  little  more.  They  would  gain  by  it,  I  know." 

"  I  rather  think  they  would  have  more  sermons  from  me 
which  were  better  if  they  should  do  this,"  Mr.  Willy 
observed. 

"  I  have  no  doubt  of  it,  sir,"  said  the  squire.  "  It  is  not 
in  ordinary  humanity  to  do  much  when  perplexed  and 
burdened  with  anxiety,  especially  in  the  way  of  profound 
study." 


"  I  am  sorry  to  see  you  getting  ready  to  leave  us,"  Mrs. 
Willy  observed  to  Mrs.  Davidson,  who  entered  the  room 
in  a  manner  that  denoted  such  an  event  to  be  nigh. 

"We  have  made  a  long  visit,  and  I  feel  somewhat 
anxious  to  return  home,"  Mrs.  Davidson  replied. 


220         A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

Soon  the  carriage  was  at  the  door,  and  the  baggage  in 
the  chaise  ;  and,  as  the  squire  was  about  getting  in,  he 
handed  Mr.  Willy  a  very  small  piece  of  paper,  folded  into 
the  dimensions  of  a  pipe  stem,  and  remarked,  "  This  may 
be  of  some  use  to  you,  Mr.  Willy,  after  we  are  out  of 
town."  Then,  bidding  all  anew  good  by,  the  horse  fleetly 
moved  out  of  the  parsonage  yard  towards  his  own  plenti- 
ful stable. 

On  entering  the  house  and  unfolding  the  thin  paper,  the 
reader  may  judge  of  the  use  it  would  be  in  the  straitened 
pastor's  family  when  informed  it  was  a  twenty-dollar 
bank  bill. 


CHAPTER    XIX. 

AN  UNREASONABLE  PASTORAL  TAX. 

'  I  BELIEVE  I  shall  not  subscribe  so  much  this  year  as  I 
did  last,"  said  a  parishioner  to  a  committee  man  whose 
office  it  was  to  raise  the  pastor's  salary.  "  Our  minister 
must  be  getting  rich."  This  remark  illustrates  a  feeling 
often  expressed  in  many  a  country  parish.  The  minister 
becomes  opulent  out  of  a  sum  at  which  many  a  mechanic 
would  scout  as  being  far  too  meagre  a  compensation  for 
his  services !  The  minister  lays  up  money  when  his  next- 
door  neighbor,  with  a  smaller  family  and  no  public  expenses 
to  meet,  who  practises  rigid  economy  withal,  finds  it  a 
difficult  matter  to  live  on  two  hundred  dollars  more  than 
the  pastor  receives !  The  minister  lays  up  money !  Ask 
his  wife,  whose  wits  are  often  so  severely  taxed  in  making 
as  it  were,  something  out  of  nothing,  because  their  circum 
stances  are  so  straitened  that  they  have  not  the  where- 
withal to  supply  their  wants  after  the  manner  of  the  great 
majority  of  their  people.  For  this  class  of  parishioners 
the  parsonage  has  often  a  voice  which  might  relieve  them 
of  their  fears. 

In  one  of  his  vacations  Mr.  Eldridge  passed  a  few  days 
with  a  relative  of  his  who  was  the  pastor  of  a  large  con- 
gregation. Whilst  reading  one  morning  in  the  parlor,  a 
stranger  to  him  was  introduced  into  the  sitting  room 
adjohing.  The  door  being  partly  opened,  enabled  him 
19  *  (221) 


222  A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

to  hear  the  conversation  which  there  was  had  as  readily 
as  he  could  have  done  had  he  been  present.  The  gentle- 
man had  not  long  been  seated  before  the  doctor  entered, 
when  the  following  conversation  took  place,  which  both 
amused  and  edified  Mr.  Eldridge  :  — 

"  I  thought  I  would  run  over,  doctor,"  said  Mr.  Fisher, 
"and  see  you  about  that  council  which  is  to  meet  next 
week,  and  ascertain  how  it  will  be  best  for  us  to  go." 

"  I  do  not  know,"  the  doctor  replied,  "  as  it  will  be  con- 
venient for  me  to  attend.  The  distance  is  so  great  that  I 
can  hardly  afford  the  time  which  an  attendance  would  re- 
quire. It  would  about  spoil  the  week." 

"I  suppose  it  is  an  important  case,"  Mr.  Fisher  ob- 
served, "  and  your  presence  is  much  desired,  or  they 
would  not  have  sent  such  a  great  distance  to  our  church." 

"Yes,"  said  the  doctor  ;  "I  regard  it  as  an  important 
case.  Since  the  letter  missive  arrived  I  have  received  a 
letter  from  one  of  the  committee  of  the  church  urging  me 
by  all  means  to  be  present." 

"  I  rather  think  you  had  better  conclude  to  go,  doctor. 
It  is  a  pleasant  season  of  the  year,  and  the  journey,  un- 
doubtedly, would  be  beneficial  to  you.  You  need  relaxa- 
tion. If  you  will  go  it  would  give  me  pleasure  to  defray 
all  the  expenses  of  your  journey." 

"  I  am  much  obliged  to  you  for  your  generosity,"  the 
doctor  replied  ;  "  and  perhaps  you  have  made  the  induce- 
ment sufficiently  strong.  I  will  think  over  the  matter 
and  inform  you  to-morrow  morning  of  my  decision.  It 
will  be  considerable  of  a  tax  upon  you,  Mr.  Fisher,  should 
I  conclude  to  go  as  you  so  kindly  propose." 

"  I  never  before  have  been  chosen  a  delegate,"  Mr. 
Fisher  remarked  ;  "  but  I  supposed  it  was  expected  that 
the  pastor  would  not  be  at  any  expense  in  attending  a 
council.  The  delegate  usually  pays  the  charges  at  these 
times,  docs  ho  not,  doctor  ?  " 


AN   UNREASONABLE   PASTORAL  TAX.  223 

The  doctor,  with  a  smile,  observed,  "  Sometimes,  when  I 
have  been  called  to  a  council  in  the  adjacent  towns,  my 
delegate  has  invited  me  to  ride  with  him ;  but  I  rather  think 
I  have  the  more  frequently  gone  at  my  own  expense,  and, 
when  I  have  gone  in  my  carriage,  carried  my  delegate" 

"  I  do  not  think,"  Mr.  Fisher  said,  "  that  you  have  been 
treated  fairly  by  your  delegates.  They  ought  to  have 
borne  all  the  expense." 

"I  am  not  sure  about  that,"  the  doctor  replied.  "I  do 
not  think  it  decided  yet  that  a  delegate,  any  more  than 
a  pastor,  should  meet  the  charges  incurred  by  attending 
councils," 

"  The  pastor,  you  know,  doctor,  always  goes ;  but  his 
delegate  is  not  often  the  same  individual.  It  would  be 
better,  therefore,  for  the  delegate  to  bear  such  expense 
than  for  the  pastor  ;  for  in  this  way  the  burden  might,  in 
the  course  of  years,  fall  equally  upon  all  the  brethren  of 
the  church,  as  they  might  every  one  be  chosen  to  this  service." 

"  I  think,"  the  doctor  remarked,  "  there  is  something  in 
this  consideration  in  favor  of  a  delegate's  meeting  the  ex- 
pense rather  than  the  pastor  ;  but  I  have  long  been  of  the 
opinion  the  tax  ought  to  be  borne  directly  by  the  church. 
Now,  I  have  been  settled  in  the  ministry  upwards  of  forty 
years ;  and,  as  I  have  kept  an  account  of  my  yearly  ex- 
penses, I  know  what  it  has  cost  me  to  attend  councils.  In 
the  early  part  of  my  ministry  I  was  not  called  to  any 
great  distance  by  such  occasions  ;  but  for  many  years  past 
I  have  been  often  required  to  go  very  far  from  home  for 
the  purpose  of  attending  councils.  Now,  Mr.  Fisher,  what 
do  you  think  my  expenses  have  been  on  an  average  for 
forty  years  past  in  attending  councils,  computing  my  time 
at  ordinary  day  wages,  and  my  travelling  charges,  includ- 
ing, of  course,  pay  for  my  horse  and  chaise,  when  I  have 
gone  with  them?" 

"  It  would  be  impossible  for  me  to  answer  your  ques- 


224  A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

tion,"  Mr.  Fisher  replied.  "  I  am  aware  that  you  have 
been  to  a  large  number  of  councils  for  several  years  past. 
Perhaps  it  has  cost  you  twenty  dollars  a  year,  and  perhaps 
forty." 

"  Well,  sir,"  said  the  doctor  ;  "  since  I  received  the  let- 
ter requesting  my  attendance  at  the  council  next  week,  I 
have  computed  the  expense  which  I  have  incurred  for  the 
last  forty-two  years  in  attending  councils,  and  I  find  that 
it  will  average  thirty-four  dollars  and  sixty-three  gents  per 
year." 

"  That  is  a  large  sum,  doctor,""  said  Mr.  Fisher,  who, 
taking  his  pencil,  proceeded  to  find  the  full  amount ;  and 
having  done  this,  he  exclaimed,  in  great  astonishment, 
"  It  makes  fourteen  hundred  fifty-four  dollars  and  eighty- 
six  cents." 

"  Yes,  sir,  that  is  the  amount ;  one  thousand  four  hun- 
dred dollars  and  eighty-six  cents,"  said  the  doctor. 

"  The  people  do  not  understand  this  subject,"  Mr.  Fisher 
observed,  "do  they,  doctor?" 

"That  is  a  fact;  they  do  not,"  the  doctor  replied. 
"  Neither  ministers  nor  people  are  aware  of  the  great  tax 
imposed  on  the  clergy  by  attendance  on  councils.  It  is  a 
great  item  in  the  expenses  of  many  ministers,  a  very  great 
item." 

"  Well,  I  suppose  you  are  oftener  called  to  councils  than 
ministers  in  general,"  said  Mr.  Fisher. 

"  Not  more  frequently  than  many  others,"  the  pastor  re- 
plied. "  I  very  often  meet  the  same  brethren  on  different 
councils.  The  more  a  minister  is  called  to  attend  on  such 
occasions,  the  more  he  will  be.  The  longer  a  minister 
lives,  the  more  he  is  called  on  councils  in  important  and 
difficult  cases." 

"  I  think,  sir,  in  these  days,  when  so  much  is  doing  to 
improve  the  age,  something  might  be  done  in  relation  to 
this  evil,  for  it  is  a  great  evil  to  pastors,"  Mr.  Fisher  re- 
marked. 


AN  UNREASONABLE  PASTORAL  TAX.  225 

"  I  have  long  thought,"  the  doctor  observed,  "  that  the 
churches  ought  to  be  enlightened  on  this  subject,  and  that 
some  principles  ought  to  be  agreed  upon  whereby  pastors 
can  be  relieved  from  this  heavy  tax." 

"  Well,  doctor,  if  you  go  next  week,  I'll  see  that  you 
are  not  the  poorer  for  your  journey." 

"  Y&u  will  be,  however,"  said  the  pastor,  smiling. 

"  I'll  take  care,  doctor,  not  to  get  in  as  deep  in  such 
matters  as  you  have,  I  assure  you,"  Mr.  Fisher  observed. 

"  I  presume  so,"  said  the  doctor  j  "  laymen  have  a  better 
wisdom  in  these  concerns  than  pastors." 

"  I  do  not  think  there  are  many  laymen  to  be  found  who 
would  expend  nearly  fifteen  hundred  dollars  in  the  course 
of  forty  years  in  attendance  on  councils,"  Mr.  Fisher  re- 
marked. 

"  Ah,  well,"  said  the  doctor,  "  I  think  the  church  ought 
to  meet  these  expenses :  either  the  one  inviting  a  council 
ought  to  pay  those  composing  it,  so  that  they  will  suffer 
no  loss  in  attending,  or  each  church  sending  ought  to 
defray  the  expenses  of  both  pastor  and  delegate." 

"  Either  of  these  ways  would  relieve  the  pastor,  and  not 
be  any  great  tax  upon  the  delegate,  too,  would  they  not, 
doctor  ?  The  suggestion  is  a  new  one  to  me,  I  confess, 
and  I  think  it  would  be  new  to  most  of  our  churches," 
Mr.  Fisher  observed.  "I  should  think  there  might  be  an 
equitable  plan  adopted  in  relation  to  this  matter.  Which 
of  the  methods  do  you  think  would  be  best,  doctor?" 

"  I  have  not  yet  fully  made  up  my  mind  on  the  subject," 
the  pastor  replied.  "There  are  weighty  "considerations 
in  favor  of  each  ;  but  I  am  leaning  strongly  towards  the 
one  that  brings  the  entire  expense  on  the  church  which 
calls  the  council.  In  the  first  place,  it  is  more  accordant 
with  the  principle  that  regulates  the  general  transaction 
of  business.  Now,  if  the  machinery  in  your  factory  does 
not  work  well,  and  you  cannot  tell  exactly  what  the 


226  A   VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

matter  is,  you  would  not  think  of  writing  a  letter  to  some 
individual  who  resides  fifteen  or  forty  miles  from  you, 
who  you  thought  could  remedy  the  evil,  requesting  his 
presence  at  your  establishment  to  advise  and  assist  you  in 
the  premises,  without  expecting  to  remunerate  him  well 
for  his  attendance  and  services.  Nor  would  the  individual 
come  without  expecting  a  fair  compensation." 

"  That  is  all  true,  doctor.7' 

"  Well,  if  our  town,"  the  pastor  continued,  "  has  business 
to  be  transacted  in  another  part  of  the  state  which  requires 
the  cool  and  patient  consideration  of  some  practical  men, 
they  would  not  think  of  sending  one  of  the  selectmen  into 
the  neighborhood  where  the  business  is  to  be  done,  and 
ordering  him  to  look  up  some  wise  and  fit  persons  there, 
and  ask  their  advice  and  attention  to  the  matter,  without 
paying  them  for  their  trouble." 

"Certainly  not,"  Mr.  Fisher  replied.  "We  should  ex- 
pect a  good  round  bill  would  be  the  consequence." 

"  To  illustrate  the  case  a  little  further,"  the  doctor  re- 
plied :  "  supposing  your  factory  company  and  the  other 
one  near  you  should  have  a  dispute  about  the  right  of 
water ;  the  two  corporations,  in  agreeing  to  refer  their 
differences  to  an  arbitration,  would  not  expect  the  arbiters 
to  come  here  and  spend  one  or  more  days  in  considering 
the  matter  without  compensating  them  fully  for  their 
trouble." 

"  Of  course  not,"  Mr.  Fisher  said.  "  They  would  come, 
not  for  their  pleasure  or  profit,  but  for  the  advantage  of 
the  parties  calling  them." 

"  Very  true,"  said  the  doctor.  "  Now,  for  whose  benefit 
docs  an  ecclesiastical  council  convene  ?  Manifestly  for 
the  advantage  of  the  party  or  parties  calling  such  council. 
Now,  why  not  have  those  who  invite  the  council  pay  the 
expenses  of  those  composing  it  ?  " 

"  I  can  see  no  good  reason  why  they  should  not,"  Mr. 
Fisher  replied. 


AN   UNREASONABLE  PASTORAL  TAX.  227 

"  There  is  another  consideration,"  the  pastor  observed, 
"  which  has  much  influence  with  me  in  having  the  expenses 
of  a  council  borne  by  the  party  calling  it ;  and  that  is, 
councils  would  not  be  so  frequent  as  they  now  are,  nor  would 
they  be  as  large.  If  a  church  knew  they  would  be  liable 
to  pay  a  large  amount  if  a  council  were  called,  the  occa- 
sion for  convening  such  a  body  would  be  really  urgent. 
Every  possible  endeavor  would  be  made  to  avoid  the 
necessity  of  such  an  expense ;  and  I  have  no  doubt  that 
many  difficulties  would  be  adjusted,  without  being  made 
public  through  a  council,  to  the  great  saving  of  private 
reputation  and  of  scandal  to  the  cause  of  Christ.  When 
every  attempt  for  a  private  settlement  of  difficulties  had 
failed  and  there  was  real  necessity  for  advice  from  without, 
care  would  be  taken  when  a  council  was  called  to  have  it 
as  small  as  possible  ;  for  the  smaller  the  number  a  council 
contains,  the  smaller  would  be  the  expense." 

"  I  think,  doctor,  you  have  made  out  a  pretty  clear  case, 
that  it  would  be  best  to  have  the  party  calling  a  council 
be  at  all  the  expense  attending  its  convocation.  I  wish 
you  would  publish  something  on  this  subject  in  the  re- 
ligious newspapers.  I  have  been  astonished  at  what  you 
have  told  me  this  afternoon  in  relation  to  the  tax  which, 
has  been  levied  on  you  by  your  attendance  on  councils  ; 
and  I  think  people  in  general,  were  they  to  have  a  few 
such  facts  laid  before  them,  accompanied  by  such  sugges- 
tions as  you  have  made  to  me,  would  be  for  having  some 
method  adopted  whereby  the  clergy  would  not  be  im- 
poverished as  you  have  been.  '  Every  pastor,  to  a  greater 
or  less  extent,  must  be  a  sufferer  under  the  present  system 
of  calling  councils." 

"  That  is  true,"  the  doctor  remarked.  "  Ministers  in 
general  may  not  think  much  on  the  subject;  but  their 
attendance  in  council  is  no  small  item  in  the  expenses  to 
which  they  are  subject." 


228         A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

Just  now  a  carriage  was  driven  into  the  doctor's  yard, 
and  presently  a  neighboring  minister  was  introduced. 
****** 

"  I  can't  stop  long,  doctor.  I  was  riding  by,  and  I 
could  not  very  well  resist  iny  inclination  to  call  a  mo- 
ment," Rev.  Mr.  Annable  observed. 

"  Sit  down,  brother,  sit  down,"  said  the  doctor  ;  "  don't 
be  in  such  haste  ;  our  tea  will  be  ready  soon." 

"  0,  I  cannot  possibly  stop  ;  I  have  a  lecture  this  even- 
ing, and  I  must  hasten  home.  I  did  not  know  how  to 
leave  ;  but  I  could  not  well  avoid  it.  I  have  been  over  to 
brother  Tenney's  parish  to  attend  a  funeral.  He  has  gone 
on  a  journey,  you  know.  I  don't  know  how  they  happened 
to  send  for  me  ;  but  the  friends  of  the  deceased  did  ;  and  so 
I  hired  a  horse  and  buggy  and  travelled  eleven  miles  over 
there  ;  and  now  I  am  on  my  way  home." 

"  They  paid  you  for  your  carriage  hire,  I  hope,"  the 
doctor  said. 

"  Not  a  word  was  said  about  that,"  Mr.  Annable  said-. 
"  The  friends  thanked  me  very  much  for  my  trouble ;  but 
nothing  more  was  said." 

"There,  Mr.  Fisher,"  said  the  doctor,  "  there  is  another 
outlet  to  a  minister's  salary.  The  attendance  of  funerals 
in  adjacent  towns  which  happen  to  be  destitute  of  pastors 
often  is  the  occasion  of  much  expense  to  a  pastor. 

"  Mr.  Fisher  and  I,"  the  doctor  continued,  "  have  been 
conversing  before  you  came  in,  brother  Annable,  on  the 
tax  to  which  pastors  were  subjected  by  reason  of  their 
being  called  so  frequently  to  sit  in  councils  ;  and  now  your 
having  been  abroad  to  a  distant  parish  to  officiate  at  a 
funeral  suggests  another  way  in  which  we  are  often 
taxed." 

"It  is  something  of  a  tax,  I  confess,"  Mr.  Annable  ob- 
served. "  I  shall  have  to  pay  out  for  carriage  hire  this 
afternoon  about  two  dollars.  Week  before  last  I  was 


AN  UNREASONABLE   PASTOEAL  TAX.  229 

called  to  Highland  parish,  about  seven  miles  from  my 
house,  where  you  know  they  are  without  a  minister,  to  at- 
tend a  funeral,  and  I  spent  one  dollar  and  a  quarter  for 
horse  hire.  I  presume  I  pay  ten  or  twelve  dollars  every 
year  for  a  conveyance  to  the  funerals  I  am  called  to  at- 
tend abroad  ;  and  I  do  not  know  as  ever  I  was  offered  a 
cent  for  my  trouble.  Well,  I  must  be  going,  or  I  shall 
not  be  in  season  for  my  lecture." 

****** 

After  his  departure  Mr.  Fisher  observed,  — 

"  I  have  discovered  this  afternoon,  doctor,  no  small 
channel  through  which  a  pastor's  salary  passes  out  with- 
out being  of  any  benefit  to  himself  or  family." 

"  Don't  you  wonder  now,"  inquired  the  pastor,  "  that 
ministers  don't  lay  up  something  handsome  out  of  their 
salaries  ?  " 

"  I  think,"  Mr.  Fislier  replied,  "  the  wonder  is,  how  they 
can  get  along  as  well  as  they  do  and  live.  It  is  high 
time,  I  think,  that  the  community  were  better  informed  in 
relation  to  these  unthought-of  expenses  of  ministers,  such 
as  those  arising  from  their  attending  councils  and  funerals 
abroad." 

"  There  might  be  much  said  to  enlighten  the  people  in 
relation  to  this  matter,"  the  doctor  observed ;  "  and  I 
think  something  ought  to  be  done.  When  the  services  of 
a  clergyman  at  a  funeral  out  of  his  own  parish  are  re- 
quested, the  friends  of  the  deceased  sending  for  him  ought 
by  all  means  to  remunerate  him  would  they  be  just  in 
their  dealings." 

"  Most  certainly  they  ought,"  Mr.  Fisher  replied.  "  A 
minister,  of  all  men,  ought  not  to  be  required  to  pay 
from  his  scanty  salary  a  single  dollar  unnecessarily ;  and 
I  am  sure  it  is  not  necessary  for  him  to  do  it  when  called 
abroad  to  attend  funerals  ;  for  he  ought  to  go  at  the  ex- 
pense of  those  who  desire  his  services." 
20 


230  A  VOICE   PROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

Taking  his  hat  in  hand  to  leave  for  home,  Mr.  Fisher 
continued, — 

"  Well,  doctor,  I  can  see  no  other  way  to  remove  the 
evils  of  which  we  have  been  speaking  but  to  agitate  the 
subject  in  the  community.  I  think,  if  the  attention  of  the 
churches  was  directed  to  this  matter,  they  would  soon  be 
disposed  to  abate  the  injustice  which  is  now  so  often  prac- 
tised towards  ministers.  I  cannot  think  many  years  would 
•pass  before  pastors  would  find  themselves  much  relieved. 
It  is  now  almost  intolerable  that  these  heavy  items  of  ex- 
pense of  which  we  have  been  speaking  should  be  allowed 
to  diminish  the  value  of  a  pastor's  salary.  I  am  persuaded 
that  it  is  nothing  but  inconsideration  on  the  part  of  the 
people  that  now  imposes  these  taxes  upon  ministers,  which 
I  desire  to  see  speedily  removed.  Agitate,  then,  the  sub- 
ject, and  invite  your  brethren  to  assist  in  this  important 
work  ;  and  you  may  depend  upon  it  there  will  be  better 
times  for  the  ministry  in  respect  to  these  evils." 


CHAPTER    XX. 

THE  PASTOR'S  WIFE. 

MRS.  DAVIDSON,  though  in  very  feeble  health,  was  yet 
benefited,  as  she  conceived,  by  being  out  in  the  open  air. 
Consequently,  on  almost  every  pleasant  day,  she  might  be 
seen  abroad.  On  an  afternoon  in  September  she  called  at 
the  house  of  her  pastor,  and  was  introduced  by  the  girl 
who  answered  at  the  door  into  the  parlor.  Mr.  Eldridge 
being  absent,  Mrs.  Davidson  sat  some  time  alone,  and,  be- 
ing informed  that  Mrs.  Eldridge  was  at  home,  wondered 
at  her  long  delay  in  coming  into  the  room.  At  length  the 
door  was  opened  and  the  pastor's  wife  entered,  having  a 
countenance  that  denoted  that  she  had  been  seeking  relief 
from  grief  in  tears.  Having  always  received  so  much 
sympathy  from  her  friend  who  had  called  as  to  regard  her 
with  some  of  those  feelings  which  exist  in  the  heart  of  a 
confiding  daughter  towards  a  kind,  watchful,  and  indul- 
gent mother,  she  was  not,  therefore,  embarrassed  or  dis- 
trustful, but  at  once  remarked,  on  seeing  Mrs.  Davidson, 
that  she  had  been  up  stairs  for  upwards  of  an  hour  having 
"  a  good  cry." 

"  You  know,  Mrs.  Davidson,  that  a  minister's  wife  is  in 
a  peculiar  situation,  and  that  her  trials  come  sometimes  in 
a  sudden  and  unexpected  manner." 

"  0,  yes,  dear,"  the  good  lady  observed  ;  "I  do  know 
that  your  position  in  life  is  very  trying  ;  and  sometimes  I 

(231) 


232  A  VOICE  FKOM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

have  wondered  that  any  young  lady  would  consent  to 
marry  a  clergyman." 

"  I  have  thought  that  I  should  never  be  so  affected 
again  as  I  have  been  this  afternoon,"  Mrs.  Eldridge  re- 
marked, "  by  any  thing  which  might  be  said  to  me  by  indi- 
viduals in  the  parish." 

"  What  have  you  heard  recently,  my  friend  ?  "  Mrs.  Da- 
vidson inquired. 

"  0,  nothing  more  than  I  have  heard  before,  I  suppose. 
Miss  Bemis  has  called  here  this  afternoon,  and  she  has  had 
considerable  to  say  in  regard  to  my  domestic  matters  and 
my  influence  here  in  the  parish." 

"  I  really  wish  Miss  Bemis  had  something  else  to  do 
besides  gathering  up  the  gossip  of  the  community  and 
coming  here  to  report  to  you,"  Mrs.  Davidson  observed. 

"  She  annoys  me  very  much,  and  has  done  so  ever  since 
I  have  been  married,"  Mrs.  Eldridge  said.  "It  almost 
makes  me  shudder  whenever  I  see  her ;  for  I  always  ex- 
pect to  hear  some  unpleasant  tale." 

"  What  has  she  been  saying  to-day  ?  "  Mrs.  Davidson 
inquired. 

"  She  has  been  talking  about  the  appearance  of  our 
house  for  one  thing,"  Mrs.  Eldridge  said. 

"  The  appearance  of  your  house  !  Why,  what  of  it  ? 
Does  it  not  appear  well  enough  to  suit  her  ladyship  ?  " 
Mrs.  Davidson  asked.  "  I  do  not  know  of  a  house  in 
town  where  there  is  more  neatness  displayed,  both  in  doors 
and  out,  than  what  I  have  -seen  here  ;  and  I  have  heard 
the  same  remark  made  a  thousand  times,  I  dare  say,  by 
different  people  in  the  parish." 

"  I  suppose  the  house  did  not  look  very  neat  week  be- 
fore last,"  Mrs.  Eldridge  said.  "You  know  I  was  sick  most 
of  the  week,  and  our  girl  was  sick  too.  A  strange  girl 
could  not  be  expected  to  keep  all  things  in  their  places 
and  to  preserve  the  house  in  the  same  neatness  as  sho 
might  if  I  had  been  about  to  assist  and  direct  her." 


THE  PASTOR'S  WIFE.  233 

"  Did  Miss  Bcmis  particularize  the  appearance  of  you* 
house  week  before  last  ?  "  Mrs.  Davidson  asked. 

"  She  was  obliged  to  at  last,"  Mrs.  Eld  ridge  said  ;  "  for 
I  thought  it  was  my  duty  to  be  pretty  plain  with  her,  she 
was  so  direct  in  her  insinuations  ;  and  I  asked  her  when 
she  or  any  one  else  had  ever  seen  the  confusion  and  dirt 
here  which  she  had  the  impudence  to  describe.  I  told  her 
I  had  never  seen  the  house  looking  as  she  said  it  did  ;  and 
I  asked  her  to  tell  me  when  it  did  look  after  this  manner. 
Then  she  was  obliged  to  say  it  did  look  so  week  before 
last." 

"  How  cruel,  how  very  cruel  and  inconsiderate,  it  was 
in  Miss  Bemis  to  say  any  thing  about  such  things  when 
she  knew  that  you  were  sick  at  that  time  and  that  Han- 
nah was  sick  too !  I  should  have  thought  she  would  have 
had  more  discretion,"  Mrs.  Davidson  said. 

"  She  remarked,  by  way  of  apology,  at  last,  that  she 
should  not  have  said  any  thing  about  it ;  but  she  had 
heard  so  much  said  in  the  parish  in  regard  to  the  state  of 
the  house  then  that  she  felt  it  to  be  her  duty  to  converse 
with  me  in  relation  to  it." 

"  You  had  a  good  many  in  to  see  you  that  week,  did  you 
not  ?  "  Mrs.  Davidson  asked. 

"  0,  yes  ;  there  were  many  who  called  in  to  inquire  after 
my  health  ;  and  I  suppose  there  were  some  who  took  oc- 
casion to  gratify  their  curiosity  and  look  round  where, 
perhaps,  it  was  not  proper  they  should  be.  Indeed,  I 
know  two  or  three  ladies  went  pretty  much  all  over  the 
house  ;  for  Margaret  has  told  me  since  Miss  Bemis  was  in, 
in  answer  to  some  of  my  inquiries,  that  Mrs.  Otis  and  Miss 
Drew  asked  her  if  they  might  not  just  look  round  a  little. 
She  said,  too,  they  asked  her  a  great  many  questions  about 
my  concerns,  and  she  said,  '/  thought,  ma'am,  they  were 
Ti  al  impudent.'  " 

"  Well,  such  things  are  really  trying,"  Mrs.  Davidson 
20* 


234         A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

observed  ;  "  but  they  will  not  detract  in  the  least  from 
the  high  estimation  in  which  you  are  held  by  the  good 
people  of  the  parish." 

"  No,  I  suppose  not,"  Mrs.  Eldridge  said ;  "  but,  after 
all,  these  stories  do  have  some  effect.  You  know  there 
are  many  families  who  seldom  call  here,  and  never  see 
me  only  when  I  call  upon  them.  These  may  have  their 
prejudices  excited  against  me  by  hearing  such  things  said 
about  my  house  appearing  as  Miss  Bemis  describes." 

"  You  have  been  here  too  long  a  time  to  be  injured  in 
the  least  by  these  things,"  Mrs.  Davidson  said  ;  "  your 
character  is  too  well  established." 

"  I  hope  you  are  correct,"  Mrs.  Eldridge  remarked  ; 
"  but  then  I  always  am  fearful  that  such  stories  have  some 
effect  to  lessen  the  good  opinion  of  one  in  relation  to  whom 
they  are  circulated.  There  are  many  people  who  only  hear 
the  fact ;  and  they  take  it  for  truth,  and  never  know  to  tho 
contrary.  From  my  experience  and  observation,  I  have 
found  that  foolish  and  groundless  reports  of  ministers' 
wives  often  do  much  towards  prejudicing  a  people  against 
their  minister.  I  was  at  Mrs.  Washburu's  last  fall,  whose 
husband  is  settled  in  the  next  town  to  where  my  father 
lives,  and  she  was  complaining  to  me  of  what  some  of  their 
people  said  in  relation  to  herself  and  husband.  She  is  not 
a  very  robust  lady,  but  yet  one  who  is  a  most  excellent 
wife  and  housekeeper  ;  and,  because  she  is  sometimes  laid 
aside  by  sickness  and  has  to  rely  entirely  on  hired  help, 
the  people  say  she  is  extravagant  and  it  is  no  wonder  that 
her  husband  can't  live  on  .his  salary,  or  cannot  study  more, 
as  he  has  so  much  to 'do  in  the  care  of  his  wife  and  chil- 
dren. She  told  me  that  her  husband  intended  to  be  on 
the  lookout  for  a  new  field  of  labor  ;  because  he  was  con- 
vinced that  these  stories  were  not  only  injuring  his  use- 
fulness, but  likewise  contributing  to  the  prostration  of  her 
health." 


THE  PASTOR'S  WIPE.  235 

"  You  need  not  fear  that  any  such  result  will  follow  the 
stories  Miss  Bemis  has  been  telling  you,  my  dear  friend," 
said  Mrs.  Davidson.     "I  do  think  it  was  very  unfeeling  in  . 
her  to  come  here  with  them." 

"  0,  it  was ;  and  when  I  considered  that  I  was  sick,  and 
Hannah  was  sick  likewise,  and  that  we  had  a  new  girl, 
and  there  was  so  much  to  be  done,  I  could  not  but  weep 
most  freely.  If  I  had  been  well  and  the  house  had  been 
in  confusion,  I  could  have  heard  of  it  with  more  com- 
posure ;  but,  as  it  was,  I  could  not  help  feeling  it  was 
almost  barbarous  in  any  one  to  feel  like  censuring  me." 

"  There  are  some  people  who  never  make  any  allowance 
for  a  minister's  wife.  I  do  not  know  why  it  is,  but  some 
people  take  great  delight  in  seizing  hold  of  almost  any 
tiling  which  they  can  convert  to  the  disadvantage  of  one 
in  your  position,"  Mrs.  Davidson  observed.  "The  only 
way  is,  to  do  right  and  be  indifferent  to  the  sayings  of 
such." 

"Miss  Bemis  told  me  people  thought  it  very  strange 
that  we  made  our  children  work  as  they  do.  She  said 
our  daughters  were  confined  in  the  house  most  of  the 
time  when  they  were  not  at  school,  and  that  our  boys 
were  very  seldom  seen  out  in  the  street  in  play  with  other 
boys." 

"I  do  not  think  persons  have  any  right  to  interfere 
with  the  management  of  your  children,"  Mrs.  Davidson 
said.  "  I  wish  all  children  were  as  well  behaved  and  as 
promising  as  yours.  I  have 'of ten  remarked  to  our  friends 
that  I  thought  your  children  were  models,  both  in  habits 
and  conduct." 

"We  are  not  indifferent  to  the  observation  of  our 
friends  of  course,"  Mrs.  Eldridge  observed  ;  "  but  our  chil- 
dren are  managed  both  by  husband  and  myself  after  our 
own  convictions  of  duty.  We  feel  that  it  is  very  impor- 
tant that  they  acquire  habits  of  industry,  and  that  they 


236  A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

learn  to  consider  that  they  are  to  be  sources  of  interest 
and  pleasure  to  each  other.  Mr.  Eldridge  is  very  par- 
ticular to  have  employment  for  his  sons,  and  I  am  no  less 
so  in  regard  to  the  daughters.  It  is  not  true  that  they 
are  confined  most  of  the  time  and  that  they  do  not  mingle 
with  other  children  ;  for  we  are  anxious  to  have  them 
learn  the  ways  of  others  ;  and,  at  suitable  times  and  with 
proper  companions,  we  have  them  go  abroad." 

"  I  would  not  have  you  alter  your  mode  of  education," 
said  Mrs.  Davidson  ;  "  for  I  think  it  very  judicious." 

"I  do  not  think  we  shall,  except  for  very  good  reasons," 
said  Mrs.  Eldridge.  "  We  are  governed  by  principle  in 
the  care  of  our  children,  and  do  not  mind  much  about  tho 
gossip  of  the  multitude  in  that  regard." 

"  Did  Miss  Bemis  hint  that  your  children  were  not  well 
behaved  ?  "  Mrs.  Davidson  asked. 

"  0,  no  ;  she  said  they  were  very  promising  children, 
and  she  wished  every  family  of  children  was  like  them." 

"  Why,  then,  does  she  suggest  that  you  alter  in  your  mode 
of  management  ?  Perhaps  if  you  did  they  would  not  be 
as  promising  as  they  now  are,"  Mrs.  Davidson  remarked. 
"  I  should  think  she  would  be  willing  to  have  you  go  on  in 
your  usual  course  if  she  thought  your  children  were  more 
promising  than  those  of  others.  I  should  think  she  was 
rather  inconsistent." 

"  I  thought  so  likewise,"  Mrs.  Eldridge  said  ;  "  and  won- 
dered at  the  time  how  she  could  wish  us  to  do  differently 
with  our  children,  when  she  remarked  every  body  said 
our  daughters  were  little  ladies  and  our  sons  little  gentle- 
men." 

"  She  is  so  ready  to  find  fault  and  so  eager  to  spread 
gossip,  that  I  suppose  she  thought  she  must  remark  about 
your  children,  and  make  some  suggestion  to  assist  you  in 
their  education,"  Mrs.  Davidson  remarked. 

"  She  had  much  to  say  about  my  not  being  more  abroad 


THE  PASTOR'S  WIPE.  237 

in  the  parish.  She  said  people  thought  I  ought  to  be  out 
more  visiting  the  families,"  Mrs.  Eldridge  said. 

"  Perhaps  your  house  would  be  in  confusion  if  you  were 
visiting  all  the  time  ;  and,  if  such  were  the  case,  I  have  no 
doubt  people  would  say  you  ought  to  stay  at  home  and  at- 
tend to  your  family,"  Mrs.  Davidson  remarked. 

"  That  is  all  true,"  said  Mrs.  Eldridge.  "  I  have  no 
doubt,  should  I  visit  more  than  I  now  do,  I  should  be  un- 
der the  necessity  of  neglecting  my  children  and  family ; 
and  then  there  would  be  a  great  hue  and  cry,  and  Miss 
Bemis  would  have  more  than  her  hands  full  of  business. 
I  told  Miss  Bemis  that  I  visited  all  that  I  could,  and  always 
went  when  and  where  I  thought  my  duty  called,  and  that 
I  intended  to  do  this  whilst  I  had  health.  I  was  pretty 
plain  with  her  ;  and  I  do  not  think  she  will  again  allude 
to  the  subject.  She  has  hinted  to  me  often  before  that  I 
did  not  go  abroad  in  the  parish  enough  ;  but  I  never  said 
much  in  reply  till  to-day." 

"I  have  often  wondered,"  Mrs.  Davidson  said,  "how 
you  found  time  to  visit  as  much  as  you  did,  seeing  you 
had  so  much  company  and  that  your  domestic  cares  were 
so  numerous.  I  never  hear  people  censure  you  for  not 
visiting  more,  and  I  do  not  believe  there  are  many  who 
do.  Miss  Bemis  may  have  heard  some  three  or  four  per- 
sons say  that  you  did  not  visit  enough  because  you  do  not 
visit  tJiem  more  than  others." 

"  I  thought  the  same,"  said  Mrs.  Eldridge,  "  and  told 
Miss  Bemis  that  I  was  particular,  as  a  general  thing,  to 
distribute  my  visits  equally  among  all  classes  in  the 
parish."  • 

"  Yes,  I  know  you  are,"  said  Mrs.  Davidson  ;  "  and  some- 
times I  have  felt  sorry  that  you  were  so  particular,  be- 
cause your  visits  at  our  house  are  so  infrequent." 

"  If  I  visited  any  more  often  than  others,  I  think  there 
are  the  best  of  reasons  why  I  should  be  frequently  at 


238  A  VOICE  FROM  THE   PARSONAGE. 

your  house  ;  for  your  favors  to  us  have  been  unbounded, 
and  your  sympathy  and  encouragement  unfailing." 

"  I  do  not  know  about  that,"  said  Mrs.  Davidson.  "  Wo 
have  always  taken  great  pleasure  in  doing  what  we  have 
for  you  and  your  family,  and  it  would  have  afforded  ine 
greater  pleasure  if  you  had  visited  us  oftener.  I  do  not 
think  you  call  at  our  house  much  oftener  than  you  do  at 
other  places." 

"  I  know  I  do  not ;  and  the  reason  is,  as  you  know, 
that  I  wish  to  avoid  every  cause  of  complaint,"  Mrs.  El- 
dridge  said. 

"  Yes,  I  know  it ;  and  I  suppose  your  course  is  proper. 
A  minister  and  his  wife  must  be  prudent." 

"  0,  yes,  we  know  that ;  but  I  have  often  thought  that 
it  was  impossible  for  a  minister  or  his  wife  to  be  so  pru- 
dent as  to  escape  censure  from  some  quarter.  Why  is  it 
that  a  minister's  wife  should  be  censured  when  she  does 
precisely  the  same  things  which  another  lady  does  who  is 
much  applauded  for  her  conduct  ?  Now,  there  are  certain 
courses  which  I  have  taken  in  relation  to  certain  matters 
which  have  been,  I  acknowledge,  in  imitation  of  your  con- 
duct, and  I  have  very  often  heard  you  highly  praised  by 
the  same  individuals  who,  I  am  informed,  have  condemned 
me  in  no  measured  terms." 

Mrs.  Davidson,  smiling,  remarked,  "I  have  often  thought 
in  astonishment  of  the  same  inconsistency,  and  could  not 
explain  it  in  any  other  way  than  by  supposing  that  you  were 
a  public  character,  a  sort  of  target  mark,  and  that  I 
was  a  private  individual.  People  feel  that  a  minister  and 
his  wife  are  somewhat  their  property,  and  are  dependent 
on  them.  Thus  they  take  liberties  which  would  be  con- 
demned as  exceedingly  uncivil  and  uncourteous  if  prac- 
tised towards  others." 

"  I  do  not  think  there  is  any  reason  Tor  such  feeling," 
Mrs.  Eldridge  observed.  "  I  do  not  know  why  we  are 


THE  PASTOR'S  WIFE.  239 

any  more  beholden  to  the  people  than  the  doctors  are  or 
the  lawyers.  My  husband  works  as  hard  for  the  people 
as  any  doctor  in  the  place  or  any  lawyer,  and  yet  does 
not  receive  half  the  compensation  for  his  services  which 
these  gentlemen  obtain.  I  never  heard  that  the  people 
ever  hinted  that  Dr.  Brown  or  Squire  Morton  were  de- 
pendent on  them,  or  that  they  could  not  live  without  them, 
or  that  their  management  or  that  of  their  wives  was  ever  a 
subject  of  much  conversation." 

"  I  agree  with  you,"  Mrs.  Davidson  said,  "  that  no  doc- 
tor or  lawyer  in  the  place  works  so  hard  for  the  people  as 
your  husband,  and  that  none  receives  so  small  a  compen- 
sation as  Mr.  Eldridge  does.  You  know  people  regard 
the  body  and  the  will  with  more  esteem  than  they  do  the 
soul,  and  they  are  more  ready  to  pay  for  services  to  the 
body  than  they  are  for  those  to  tlursoul,  and  that  they  some- 
times will  sacrifice  all  to  the  gratification  of  the  will. 
Somehow  or  other,  people  feel  when  they  employ  a  doctor  or 
a  lawyer  that  they  are  dependent  upon  them,  and  not  that 
the  doctor  or  lawyer  are  beholden  to  them.  But  towards 
a  minister  the  feeling  of  dependence  is  the  other  way." 

"Yes,  I  think  it  is,"  Mrs.  Eldridge  replied.  "  I  do  not 
think  that  I  am  any  more  beholden  to  the  people  here  than 
Mrs.  Brown  or  Mrs.  Morton  are.  I  wonder  if  these 
ladies  think  they  are  dependent  and  must  stop  and  think 
before  they  act  to  ascertain  whether  it  will  answer  to  do 
thus  and  so,  just  because  their  husbands  happen  to  be  one 
a  doctor  and  the  other  a  lawyer?" 

"  Of  course  they  do  not  feel  their  dependence,"  s&id 
Mrs.  Davidson.  "I  warrant  you  Mrs.  Brown  will  do 
as  she  pleases  for  all  the  people  here  will  say ;  and  that 
Mrs.  Morton,  too,  will  not  ask  leave  of  any  how  to  act." 

"  Well,  now,"  Mrs.  Eldridge  asked,  "  why  should  my  con- 
duct be  so  much  watched,  and  why  should  people  be  so 
free  to  speak  of  me  and  my  actions,  when  they  let  Mrs. 


240  A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

Brown  and  Mrs.  Morton  go  unscathed  ?  The  people  pay 
Dr.  Brown  and  Squire  Morton,  and  they  pay  Mr.  El- 
dridge.  The  doctor  and  lawyer  make  money  ;  but  my 
husband  barely  lives.  I  should  really  like  to  know  why 
I  should  be  singled  out  and  shot  at  as  I  am." 

"  0, 1  do  not  know  of  any  good  reason,  I  confess,"  Mrs. 
Davidson  remarked,  "  only  that  is  the  fashion.  Ministers' 
wives,  of  late  years,  have  had  rather  a  hard  lot ;  for  my 
part,  I  pity  them  very  much." 

"  They  are  deserving  of  commiseration,  I  think,"  Mrs. 
Eldridge  replied  ;  "for  often,  let  them  do  as  they  may, — 
summon  to  their  aid  all  the  wisdom  which  can  be  com- 
manded, —  they  are  sure  to  meet  with  censure  and  reproach 
from  some  quarter." 


CHAPTER    XXI. 


VISIT  OF   MB.   AND   MRS.  BANCROFT. 

A  SUDDEN  change  in  the  health  of  Mrs.  Davidson  having 
excited  the  apprehension  of  her  friends  that  her  days  on 
earth  would  soon  be  finished,  a  messenger  was  despatched 
to  her  only  surviving  sister,  Mrs.  Bancroft,  who  resided  in 
the  State  of  New  York,  summoning  her  at  once  to  the  pres- 
ence of  the  invalid.  But  a  few  days,  therefore,  elapsed  after 
the  receipt  of  this  most  melancholy  intelligence  before  the 
affectionate  sisters  again  were  together,  the  one  in  the  most 
anxious  and  assiduous  care  of  the  other,  who  was  far 
reduced  by  disease. 

In  a  few  months  later  it  had  been  the  design  of  Mrs. 
Bancroft  to  visit  the  place  of  her  birth  and  the  scenes  of 
her  childhood  and  youth ;  for  it  had  ever  been  her  practice 
since  her  marriage  to  do  this  as  often  as  once  in  a  twelve- 
month. Her  attachments  were  exceedingly  strong  to  her 
native  hills  and  valleys  ;  and,  with  these,  her  affection  for 
the  only  sister  she  ever  had  made  a  motive  altogether- 
irresistible  to  overcome  every  hindcrance  which  might 
interpose  an  annual  journey  thitherward.  In  the  present 
instance  of  her  leaving  home  there  had  been  no  pleasing 
anticipations  as  there  formerly  were  for  weeks  before  such 
a  journey.  But  one  idea  was  with  her,  and  that  engrossed 
every  thought  of  her  mind  and  absorbed  every  feeling  of 
her  heart.  Her  sister,  her  only  sister,  sick  and  dying,  was 


242  A   VOICE   FEOM   THE   PARSONAGE. 

sufficient  to  keep  her  most  thoughtful  and  sad.  Upon  her 
arrival,  however,  at  the  mansion  of  the  squire,  her  melan- 
choly forebodings  were  much  relieved  ;  for  in  Mrs.  David- 
son there  had  been  an  alteration  for  the  better,  and  hope 
again  existed  in  all  the  family  that  the  period  of  her  disso- 
lution might  not  soon  arrive. 

A  few  days  subsequent  to  the  arrival  of  Mrs.  Bancroft 
and  her  husband,  as  Mr.  Eldridge  had  just  left  the  chamber 
of  the  sick  one,  Mrs.  Bancroft  observed,  — 

"  How  differently  you  are  situated  in  respect  to  a  pastor, 
sister,  from  what  we  are !  All  here  seem  attached  to  the 
minister ;  and  the  minister  appears  to  reciprocate  the 
interest,  and  to  be  devoted  to  the  highest  interests  of  the 
people." 

"  We  are  highly  favored  in  our  pastor,  I  acknowledge," 
Mrs.  Davidson  replied.  "Mr.  Eldridge  certainly  is  a 
most  excellent  man.  I  arn  sorry  to  know  that  you  are  not  as 
fortunate  in  a  pastor.  Perhaps,  however,  it  may  be  that 
your  people  are  in  fault,  in  not  paying  him  those  attentions 
which  belong  to  a  minister." 

'•  I  cannot  think,"  said  Mrs.  Bancroft,  ",that  our  minister 
knows  how  to  appreciate  tender  and  devoted  attentions  from 
a  people.  He  always  appears  to  be  looking  after  but  one 
interest ;  and  that  is  his  own.  I  think,  and  others  think, 
that  he  is  a  very  selfish  man" 

"  I  am  astonished,  sister,"  said  Mrs.  Davidson,  "  to  hear 
such  a  character  given  to  Mr.  Caldor.  When  I  have  met 
with  him  at  your  house  I  have  been  rather  pleased  with 
him." 

"  I  know  you  were  pleased  with  him,"  Mrs.  Bancroft 
said,  "  as  strangers  are  inclined  to  be.  When  you  have 
been  with  us  we  did  not  care  to  disclose  our  feelings  in 
regard  to  him  and  find  fault  with  the  minister ;  for  we 
were  aware  of  your  very  extreme  repugnance  at  hearing  a 
minister  censured  ;  and  besides,  we  have  been  living  in  hope 


VISIT  OF  MR.   AND   MRS.   BANCROFT.  243 

that  Mr.  Caldor  would  become  sensible  of  his  inconsis- 
tencies, and  reform.  But  now  we  have  given  up  all  hope 
of  this." 

"  You  feel  then,"  said  Mrs.  Davidson,  "  that  he  can  no 
longer  be  useful  to  you,  I  suppose  ?  " 

"  Yes;  I  think  Mr  Caldor  can  do  no  more  good  in  our 
parish.  The  council  we  had  a  few  months  since  gave  it 
as  their  opinion  that  it  was  best  that  he  be  dismissed." 

"  Ah,  have  you  had  a  council  ?  "  Mrs.  Davidson  inquired. 

"  Yes ;  the  people  at  last  obtained  the  consent  of  Mr. 
Caldor  to  the  calling  of  a  council ;  but  he  told  them  he 
should  not  abide  by  the  result  unless  it  accorded  with  his 
judgment." 

"  He  is  somewhat  independent,  I  should  think,"  Mrs. 
Davidson  said. 

"  He  is  a  very  set  man,"  said  the  other.  "  He  is  not  the 
man  to  be  moved  when  he  has  once  made  up  his  mind. 
His  contumacy  has  been  very  instrumental  in  increasing 
the  dissatisfaction  of  our  people  with  him.  If  any  one 
differs  from  him  and  conscientiously  acts  in  opposition  to 
his  views,  he  is  sure  to  hear  of  it,  and  sooner  or  later  to 
feel  the  effects  of  Mr.  Caldor's  displeasure." 

"  Such  a  trait  of  character,"  said  Mrs.  Davidson,  "  is  not 
very  becoming  in  a  minister,  I  think." 

"No,  sister  ;  it  very  ill  becomes  a  minister  to  condemn 
every  one  who.  happens  to  disagree  with  him  and  to  follow 
such  a  one  with  his  wrathful  treatment.  This  is  the 
coarse  which  Mr.  Caldor  has  long  pursued,  and  it  has  been 
a  powerful  cause  in  bringing  our  people  to  their  present 
feeling." 

"Did  it  appear  before  the  council,"  Mrs.  Davidson 
inquired,  "  that  Mr.  Caldor  was  such  a  man  as  you  rep- 
resent?" 

"  Certainly  it  did,"  was  the  reply,  "and  that  pretty  fully 
too.  The  testimony  was  abundant  that  Mr.  Caldor  fol- 


244 


A  VOICE   PROM  THE   PARSONAGE. 


lowed  such  as  walked  not  on  his  own  line  with  his  dis- 
pleasure and  improved  every  opportunity  to  do  them  an 
injury.  Some  of  the  council  were  utterly  confounded  with 
the  disclosures  which  were  made  under  this  charge,  and 
they  were  amazed  that  the  people  had  borne  with  him  as 
long  as  they  had.  It  appeared  that  one  man  was  turned 
out  of  the  church  because  Mr.  Caldor  became  angry  with 
him  for  not  quietly  submitting  to  his  arbitrary  dictation." 

"  But  how  could  this  have  been  done  ? "  Mrs.  Davidson 
inquired. 

"  Our  church  have  long  been  in  a  very  sluggish  state,  you 
know,"  Mrs.  Bancroft  replied,  "  and  withal  have  stood  in 
fear  of  Mr.  Caldor.  They  knew  he  would  be  a  match  for 
them  if  they  contended  with  him  ;  and  so  he  has  been 
allowed  to  do  pretty  much  as  he  pleased.  The  brother 
who  was  cut  off  would  not  bow  down  to  Mr.  Caldor,  and 
so  at  some  private  meeting  of  the  church  he  was  cut  off." 

"  Were  there  no  preliminary  steps  taken  with  this  indi- 
vidual ?  "  Mrs.  Davidson  asked. 

"  No  ;  there  were  not.  When  he  was  excommunicated 
there  were  but  a  few  present,  and  those  were  people  who 
would  not  dare  to  do  otherwise  than  as  Mr.  Caldor  told 
them." 

"  I  should  have  thought  the  brother  would  have  appealed 
to  a  council,"  Mrs.  Davidson  suggested. 

"He  did  request  a  mutual  council ;  but  Mr.  Caldor  so 
managed  that  the  request  was  refused.  The  people,  how- 
ever, did  not  feel  right  about  this  ;  and,  on  the  whole,  mt>re 
harm  was  done  to  Mr.  Caldor  than  to  any  one  else." 

"I  should  think,"  Mrs.  Davidson  said,  "conduct  like 
this  in  a  minister  would  be  likely  to  excite  a  people." 

"  Yes,  yes ;  it  did  our  people,  I  assure  you.  They  waked 
up  at  once  after  this,"  Mrs.  Bancroft  said,  "  and  there  was 
no  backwardness  in  people's  saying  what  they  thought 
about  Mr.  Caldor.  One  would  tell  this  and  another  that ; 


VISIT  OF   MR.  AND   MRS.   BANCROFT.  24£ 

and  so  from  different  quarters  there  came  a  variety  of  re- 
ports of  his  conduct,  which  made  him  appear  in  a  very 
unministerial  position.  There  was,  soon  after  this,  a  de- 
termination on  the  part  of  many  to  exert  themselves  and 
have  him  dismissed." 

"  What  charges  did  they  bring  against  him  before  the 
council  ?  "  Mrs.  Davidson  inquired. 

"  His  being  arbitrary  and  vindictive  was  one,  and  his 
being  very  penurious  was  another." 

"  Perhaps  he  was  only  provident  and  frugal,  and  not 
penurious,"  Mrs.  Davidson  said. 

"  0,  but  it  came  out  most  fully  before  the  council,"  the 
sister  exclaimed,  "  that  he  was  exceedingly  fond  of  money, 
and  would  do  almost  any  thing  to  get  it.  It  appeared 
that  he  had  driven  some  of  the  very  hardest  of  bargains, 
and  that  often  with  the  poor  of  his  flock.  There  being 
no  cause  for  this,  Mr.  Caldor  having  a  good  farm,  money 
at  interest,  and  a  good  salary,  his  conduct  appeared  much 
more  reprehensible.  As  a  specimen  of  his  love  of  money 
and  of  the  meanness  he  often  resorted  to  to  get  it,  it  was 
proved  before  the  council  that  a  poor  neighbor  of  his 
went  to  him  to  buy  a  rooster,  of  which  he  had  many  large 
and  fine  ones.  The  pastor  was  very  complaisant  and 
ready  for  a  bargain,  and  descanted  largely  upon  the  su- 
periority of  his  poultry.  A  fowl  having  been  selected  by 
the  neighbor  and  the  price  inquired,  Mr.  Caldor  said, 
'  That's  a  noble  fellow.  It  is  not  more  than  two  months 
old,  and  I  dare  say  he  would  weigh  five  pounds  dressed. 
I  will  sell  him  to  you  for  fifty  cents  ;  and  if  you  can't  pay 
for  him  nojv,  you  may  take  him  home  and  keep  him  all 
winter,  and  return  him  in  the  spring.'  The  neighbor  said 
he  would  not  take  him  then,  but  would  see  about  it,  and 
let  Mr.  Caldor  know  in  a  few  days  what  he  would  do. 
This  conversation  took  place  towards  the  close  of  a  day 
in  the  mouth  of  September.  In  the  evening  a  knocking 
21* 


246  A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

was  heard  at  the  door  of  this  neighbor,  and,  on  its  being 
opened,  lo  and  behold,  there  stood  the  pastor  with  the 
fowl  under  his  arm !  '  I  have  brought  over  the  fowl,'  he 
said.  '  Mr.  Bradly,  he  is  rather  in  my  way  ;  he  fights  the 
others.  You  can  keep  him,  and,  any  time  you  please,  can 
pay  me  the  half  dollar.'  The  neighbor  had  concluded 
that  he  would  not  give  such  a  price  for  the  fowl,  and  was 
intending  to  have  told  his  minister  so  when  he  next  saw 
him  ;  but,  inasmuch  as  his  reverence  had  brought  him 
over  in  his  own  arms,  he  said,  'Very  well,  Mr.  Caldor.' 
So  he  took  the  fowl.  A  few  weeks  after  this  Mr.  Bradly 
went  over  to  the  minister's,  and,  after  being  there  a  while, 
he  took  out  half  a  dollar  and  laid  it  upon  the  table  by  the 
side  of  which  Mr.  Caldor  was  sitting,  and  remarked, 
'  There  is  your  rooster.'  l  0,'  said  his  reverence,  '  I  can't 
let  you  have  him  for  that ;  he  is  worth  seventy-five  cents. 
I  sold  three  to-day  smaller  than  yours  for  that  sum.'  Upon 
being  reminded  that  this  was  the  price  agreed  upon,  Mr. 
Caldor  said,  '  If  I  told  you  so,  you  can  have  it ;  but  the 
fowl  is  worth  more  money.' " 

"  Do  you  say,  sister,  that  it  was  proved  before  the  coun- 
cil that  Mr.  Caldor  was  guilty  of  this  meanness  and  dis- 
honesty?" 

"  I  do,"  the  sister  persisted  ;  "  and  several  other  cases 
similar  were  proved  too.  It  came  out  that  Mr.  Caldor 
had  been  in  the  habit  of  taking  his  wife  and  three  small 
children  and  going  abroad  in  the  parish,  spending  a  day 
here  and  one  there,  and  being  thus  absent  from  his  own 
house  for  three  and  four  days  in  succession  ;  and  all  this 
for  the  mere  purpose  of  saving" 

"  How  could  it  be  proved  that  this  was  his  object  ?  I 
should  think  it  would  be  a  difficult  matter  to  prove  this," 
Mrs.  Davidson  suggested. 

"  What  other  object  could  the  man  have,"  the  sister 
aaid,  "  in  being  gone  from  home  with  his  wife  and  children 


VISIT  OP  MR.   AND  MRS.   BANCROFT.  247 

from  Monday  afternoon  till  Friday  morning,  and  that,  too, 
very  frequently  in  the  course  of  the  year  ?  Besides,  it  was 
proved  that  saving  was  his  object  by  a  hired  girl.  This 
girl  testified  that  she  overheard  Mr.  Caldor  say  to  his 
wife  one  day,  '  My  dear,  I  guess  we'll  go  abroad  in  the 
parish  next  week  and  live  on  the  people  for  a  few  days. 
Mary  takes  good  care  of  the  hogs  and  the  cows  when  we 
are  away  ;  and  you  know  she  likes  bread  and  milk,  and  it 
saves  considerable  when  we  are  all  away  for  three  or  four 
days.7 '' 

"  How  happened  it  to  be  known  that  Mr.  Caldor  said 
this  ?  "  Mrs.  Davidson  inquired. 

"  The  hired  girl,  Mary,  told  of  it,  to  be  sure,"  the  sister 
replied.  "  She  never  liked  it  to  be  left  alone  so  much 
with  all  the  barn  work  to  do  ;  and  she  was  vexed  when 
she  came  to  know  what  the  reason  was.  After  hearing 
this  reason  from  the  lips  of  Mr.  Caldor  himself,  she  made 
it  known  to  some  of  the  neighbors.  The  people  had  often 
wondered  why  the  minister  and  his  family  were  abroad  so 
much  in  the  parish,  and  many  had  said  that  they  could 
think  of  no  other  reason  than  a  desire,  to  save ;  but  then 
there  was  no  proof  of  this  until  the  disclosures  of  the 
hired  girl." 

"  Well,"  said  Mrs.  Davidson,  "  if  your  minister  is  such 
a  man  as  this,  I  can't  blame  the  people  for  wishing  him 
away."  4 

"  He  is  just  such  a  man"  was  the  reply  ;  " and  I  hope 
there  are  few  like  him  who  preach  the  gospel." 

"I  think  there  are  not  many  of  this  description,"  Mrs. 
Davidson  said.  "  Our  acquaintance  with  ministers  is  very 
large,  you  well  know  ;  and  I  am  sure,  as  a  general  thing, 
they  are  sincere,  worthy  men,  whose  chief  desire  is  to  do 
good.  I  have  often  thought  that  a  desire  for  money,  for 
its  own  sake,  existed  more  feebly  in  clergymen  than  in 
any  other  class  of  the  community." 


248  A  VOICE  PROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

"  That  has  always  been  my  opinion/'  rejoined  the  sister ; 
"  and  I  think  that  Mr.  Caldor's  is  one  of  the  rare  cases  of 
ministerial  misconduct.  But  then  it  is  all  true  of  him 
that  I  have  now  told  ;  and  I  think  he  ought  no  longer  to 
preach.  If  he  were  poor  there  would  be  some  excuse 
for  him  ;  but  he  is  not ;  he  is  richer  than  most  of  his 
people." 

"  I  hope  most  sincerely,"  Mrs.  Davidson  continued,  "  that 
he  will  be  influenced  by  the  advice  of  the  council 
and  take  himself  off  from  your  parish  without  further 
trouble." 

"  I  am  very  much  afraid  that  he  will  not,"  said  Mrs. 
Bancroft.  "  He  very  well  knows  that  he  would  stand  but 
a  small  chance  to  be  settled  again  ;  and  he  likes  a  six- 
hundred-dollar  salary  too  well  to  relinquish  it  readily. 
But  I  am  persuaded,  if  he  stays,  that  he  will  have  but  a 
very  few  people  to  hear  him  preach.  He  may,  however, 
take  himself  off.  Should  he  do  this  at  once  the  parish 
may  be  saved  from  ruin."  • 

"  But  can  he  not  be  compelled  to  leave  ?  "  Mrs.  David- 
son asked. 

"  They  say  he  is  settled  for  life,"  was  the  reply  ;  "  and 
unless  he  can  be  impeached  for  immoral  conduct,  or  change 
of  sentiment,  or  neglect  of  duty,  he  cannot  be  dismissed 
against  his  consent.  That  was  in  the  contract  at  the  time 
of  his  settlement." 

"  I  should  say  that  he  might  be  impeached  for  immoral 
conduct,"  Mrs.  Davidson  suggested. 

"  So  some  of  the  council  thought,"  the  sister  said  ;  "  and 
I  believe  there  are  those  among  the  people  who  intend  to 
resort  to  this  course  if  he  will  not  leave  soon." 

"  I  cannot  understand  how  a  minister  can  be  willing  to 
preach  to  a  people  who  has  the  opinion  of  him  which  you 
gay  is  held  by  your  parish  respecting  Mr.  Caldor,"  Mrs. 


VISIT  OF  MR.   AND  MRS.   BANCROFT.  249 

Davidson  said.  "  Most  clergymen  would  retire  at  once 
upon  the  discovery  of  any  very  general  dissatisfaction,  no 
matter  whether  there  was  any  reason  for  it  or  not.  I 
have  often  thought  that  they  were  too  much  inclined  to 
leave  their  people  upon  very  slight  appearances  of  dissat- 
isfaction among  them.  I  have  supposed  ministers  often 
erred  in  thinking  their  people  were  tired  of  them  without 
cause." 

"I  have  no  doubt  of  this,  sister,  myself.  I  think,  and 
have  often  heard  the  opinion  expressed  by  others,  that 
ministers  were  too  sensitive  and  too  suspicious.  I  have 
known  instances  of  ministers  leaving  good  situations, 
thinking  that  their  people  were  anxious  for  a  change. 
There,  was  Mr.  Parsons,  who  was  settled  about  fifteen 
miles  from  us,  who  left  his  people  because  he  imagined 
they  were  dissatisfied.  They  did  not  know  at  the  time 
that  this  was  the  reason  ;  and  they  were  much  pained 
when  convinced  that  such  was  the  fact*  They  thought 
much  of  him,  and  never  thought  that  he  was  not  a  very 
useful  minister  among  them." 

"  I  have  no  doubt  that  ministers  often  err  in  this  re- 
spect," said  Mrs.  Davidson.  "  They  see  things  frequently 
through  a  diseased  brain,  brought  on  by  much  study 
and  anxiety.  I  think  a  people  ought  to  take  especial 
pains  to  guard  their  pastor  against  such  a  feeling,  which 
might  be  easily  done.  Let  them  often  call  upon  the  pas- 
tor and  speak  words  of  cheer  to  him  —  speak  of  his  ser- 
mons and  his  other  labors,  to  encourage  him.  How  easily 
this  might  be  done  !  Let  them,  too,  make  him  or  his  fam- 
ily a  present  occasionally — no  matter  if  it  be  ever  so 
small  and  trifling,  if  a  larger  one  be  not  convenient  and 
practicable.  'A  gift/ you  know,  'pacifieth  wrath;'  and 
certainly  a  gift  might  have  equal  effect  in  removing 
despondency  and  in  sending  encouragement  to  a  pastor's 
heart." 


250  A  VOICE   FROM  THE   PARSONAGE. 

"  Yes,  sister  ;  what  you  say  is  all  true.  Not  long  since 
I  went  a  short  journey,  and  stopped  over  the  Sabbath 
with  a  friend  of  ours,  a  Mr.  Branch,  who  is  settled  over  a 
large  church.  I  remember  very  well  hearing  him  say  to 
his  wife  that  he  wished  he  might  hear  something  from 
his  preaching.  I  asked  him  if  he  never  heard  any  thing 
from  it.  '  No/  he  said  ;  he  did  not  remember  ever  to 
have  heard  any  allusion  made  to  his  sermons  more  than 
once  or  twice  since  he  had  been  settled.  He  remarked 
that  he  considered  it  very  singular  that,  as  often  as  he 
met  his  people  in  private,  they  should  be  so  silent  in  re- 
lation to  his  labors.  He  said  it  would  do  him  good  to 
hear  from  his  preaching  ;  he  should  be  encouraged,  be  in- 
spired with  confidence,  if  he  knew  that  his  people  were 
satisfied  with  his  preaching." 

"  That  is  just  what  I  think,"  said  Mrs.  Davidson.  "  A 
minister  is  greatly  encouraged  when  he  hears  his  people 
speak  favorably  of  his  labors.  He  feels  that  he  is  not 
laboring  in  vain.  I  think  a  people  err  often  in  being 
negligent  in  this  respect.  A  little  more  consideration  on 
their  part  might  show  them  the  usefulness  and  importance 
of  "their  encouraging  their  pastor.  Should  they  do  this, 
and  pay  him  kind  attentions,  they  might  be  paid  a  hun- 
dred fold.  People  are  ready  enough  to  talk  to  their 
minister  about  his  sermons  and  other  labors  when  he  is 
first  settled  and  does  not  need  encouraging.  I  would 
have  them  as  communicative  ever  afterwards.  We  all 
like  to  feel  that  we  are  successful  in  what  we  undertake  ; 
and  it  must  be  gratifying  to  a  clergyman  to  hear  from 
his  people  evidence  that  he  is  useful.  I  am  acquainted 
with  no  better  way  for  a  minister  to  have  this  evidence 
than  for  his  people  to  speak  to  him  occasionally  about  his 
sermons." 

"  Y.es,  sister  ;  if  a  people  wish  for  a  good  minister,  the  best, 


VISIT  OF  MR.   AND   MRS.   BANCROFT.  251 

way  is  for  them  to  be  good  themselves.  They  must  treat 
him  kindly  and  considerately.  If  they  do  this,  and  have 
not  such  a  man  as  our  Mr.  Caldor  for  a  pastor,  I  am  per- 
suaded they  will  be  rewarded  for  all  their  pains  and 
trouble." 


CHAPTER    XXII. 

THE  BEQUEST. 

IT  accorded  well  with  the  feelings  of  Mr.  Eldridge  that 
an  invitation  was  given  him  to  preach  the  sermon  at  an 
ordination  of  a  friend  who  was  to  be  settled  about  ninety 
miles  distant  from  him  ;  for,  at  the  period  when  this  invi- 
tation came,  he  was  exhausted  by  his  multifarious  pastoral 
labors,  and  longed  for  a  journey  to  recruit  him.  Ho 
therefore  willingly  consented  to  perform  the  service,  and 
left  his  family  and  parish  towards  the  close  of  the  week 
preceding  the  Wednesday  on  which  the  ordination  was  to 
occur.  He  left  thus  early  that  he  might  pass  a  few  days 
with  a  much-esteemed  clerical  friend,  who  lived  about 
fifteen  miles  this  side  the  town  which  was  to  terminate  his 
journey. 

In  his  visit  at  this  friend's,  conversation  was  directed, 
as  was  perfectly  natural  that  it  should  be,  to  the  situation 
of  ministers  at  the  present  day  and  as  it  had  been  for  a 
number  of  past  years.  In  the  progress  of  this  conver- 
sation the  pastor  of  the  place  incidentally  alluded  to  a 
letter  which  had  lately  been  put  into  his  hands  by  one  of 
his  most  promient  parishioners,  with  a  desire  for  his  opin- 
ion on  the  request  which  it  contained.  This  letter  was 
from  a  son  who  had  received  a  liberal  education,  had 
passed  through  a  regular  theological  course,  and  entered 
the  ministry,  in  which  he  had  been  blessed  for  nine  years, 

(2.52) 


THE  REQUEST.  253 

serving  two  churches  successively  in  the  pastoral  office.  la 
point  of  ability  and  general  acceptableness  as  a  preacher  he 
was  far  above  the  ordinary  class.  He  had  his  own  ideas  of 
propriety,  and  could  not  well  be  happy  or  contented  in  a  sit- 
uation where  such  views  could  not  be  realized  and  enjoyed. 
Because  this  was  not  his  condition  in  his  first  charge  he 
sought  and  obtained  a  release  from  it,  thinking  he  might, 
among  another  people,  be  differently  situated.  Such  was 
his  popularity  as  a  preacher,  he  found  it*no  difficult  matter 
soon  to  secure  an  invitation  from  another  parish  ;  and  the 
compensation  being  more  than  that  usually  given  out  of 
our  cities,  for  ministerial  services,  he  concluded  to  accept 
the  invitation,  and  was  accordingly  installed.  Among  this 
people  be  had  lived  four  years  at  the  time  he  wrote  the 
letter  to  his  father  to  which  allusion  has  been  made,  and 
was  happy  in  their  confidence  and  esteem ;  yet  here  he 
found  that  his  own  ideas  of  propriety  were  not  met,  and 
it  was  his  serious  purpose  to  leave. 

The  letter  was  read  to  Mr.  Eldridge,  and  it  was  as  fol- 
lows :  — 

"  MY  DEAR  FATHER  :  From  what  I  said  to  you  when 
you  were  here  six  months  since,  the  impression  was  proba- 
bly made  on  your  mind  that  we  were  not  happy  and  con- 
tented here,  and  for  reasons  somewhat  similar  to  those 
which  occasioned  my  first  dismission.  In  my  first  settle- 
ment, I  had  a  salary,  as  you  remember,  of  five  hundred 
dollars.  I  soon  found,  as  you  are  aware,  that  such  a  sum 
was  wholly  inadequate  to  a  comfortable  living  and  yet 
meet  those  other  calls  made  upon  me  from  my  library  and 
the  benevolent  societies  of  the  age.  Were  I  not  a  minis- 
ter and  expected  to  be  an  example  to  the  flock  of  benevo- 
lence, and  to  have  all  things  upon  and  about  me  fair 
and  comely,  and  expected,  too,  not  to  resort  to  other 
ways  than  my  regular  salary  for  the  means  of  enabling 
22 


254  A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

the  people  to  realize  their  expectations,  were  1  £.  farmer 
or  a  mechanic,  I  doubt  not  I  could  live  comfortably  on 
five  hundred  dollars,  and  perhaps  put  by  a  hundred  on 
interest.  But  being  a  minister,  I  could  not,  as  you  know  I 
did  not,  live  on  five  hundred  dollars  in  one  of  the  five 
years  of  my  first  settlement ;  and  it  was  for  this  reason  only 
that  I  sought  a  dismission.  When  I  was  invited  to  settle 
where  I  am  now  located,  and  oifered  one  thousand  dollars 
salary,  I  judged  I -might  fulfil  my  desires  and  duty  on  that 
amount ;  but  I  have  not  been  able.  The  expenses  of  living 
here  are  great ;  the  expectations  of  the  people  of  the  style 
in  which  their  minister  is  to  live  are  great ;  and  a  thousand 
dollars  here  go  no  further  towards  answering  the  many  calls 
made  upon  the  pastor  than  five  hundred  did  in  my  former 
settlement.  Had  I  no  more  family  now  than  I  had  then,  I 
could  not  live  and  do  as  I  am  expected  to  do  on  the  salary 
I  now  have.  Now,  I  am  troubled,  and  have  long  been  troubled, 
to  know  what  course  to  pursue.  My  people  think  they 
pay  a  large  salary  ;  and  so  they  do,  if  a  large  salary  be 
more  than  what  most  ministers  in  the  country  receive. 
But,  then,  it  is  not  a  salary  sufficient  to  enable  a  minister  to 
maintain  the  position  in  society  which  is  assigned  him  by  the 
people.  Here  is  my  trouble.  People  assign  a  minister 
a  position  which  the  salary  they  give  him  will  not  enable 
him  to  keep ;  whereas  he  ought  to  have  a  larger  salary 
than  his  position  demands  to  be  able  to  provide  against 
a  season  of  disability  to  preach  by  reason  of  sickness  and 
age;  as  the  community  now  feel  a  minister  cannot  be 
backward  in  any  benevolent  effort  without  incurring  the 
charge  of  meanness,  nor  can  he  be  economical  and  save 
a  portion  of  his  salary  without  an  exposure  to  the  charge  of 
being  avaricious.  I  have  neighbors  about  me,  whose  in- 
come has  never  been  a  thousand  dollars  a  year,  who  are 
comparatively  wealthy  ;  but  if  the  minister  had  attempted 
to  follow  their  way  of  becoming  rich  he  would  have  been 


THE  REQUEST.  255 

most  severely  frowned  upon.  I  am  tired  of  drawing  on 
you  and  on  iny  wife's  father  for  money  from  year  to  year 
to  help  in  maintaining  my  position  in  society ;  and  both 
myself  and  wife  have  made  up  our  minds  that  it  is  no 
longer  duty.  My  wife's  father  was  here  lately,  and  we 
had  a  long  talk  upon  the  subject.  He  sympathizes  with 
us,  and  is  willing  to  assist  us  in  living  here,  and  would  pre- 
fer thus  to  do  than  to  have  us  leave.  We  told  him  how 
we  felt  in  relation  to  being  supported  in  any  other  way 
than  from  our  own  exertions,  and  that  we  had  made  up 
our  mind  no  longer  to  be  from  year  to  year  dependent  on 
the  bounty  of  our  relatives.  At  last  I  disclosed  to  him 
my  plan,  which  I  will  now  submit  to  you. 

"  When  I  first  proposed  to  you  the  idea  I  had  of  trying 
to  obtain  a  collegiate  education,  you  may  remember  that 
you  did  not  fully  fall  in  with  me ;  that  you  said  you 
intended  that  I  should  have  the  Holmes  Place,  which  you 
thought  would  afford  me  the  means  of  obtaining  a  hand- 
some livelihood  and  perhaps  more  than  that.  Well,  that 
place  is  not  sold  yet,  and  I  have  thought  I  would  apply  for 
it  now.  I  think  I  could  live  if  I  had  it,  and  not  suffer  so 
much  as  I  now  do  from  being  pinched  as  I  am  in  living  on 
a  scale  not  of  my  own  making,  which  I  am  not  able  to 
sustain  with  the  means  now  afforded  me  by  the  people.  J 
cannot  hope  for  an  increased  salary,  nor  that  the  people 
will  be  less  moderate  in  their  expectations.  I  do  not  like 
to  lhre  where  I  cannot  be  more  independent  in  the  manage- 
ment of  my  affairs  than  I  can  in  the  ministry  in  the  pres- 
ent state  of  popular  feeling.  A  minister,  ordinarily,  is  not 
permitted  to  graduate  his  expenses  according  to  his  own 
estimate  of  his  ability.  His  people  or  the  ruling  spirits 
among  them  must  do  this  work  for  him;  and,  whilst  the 
means  of  living  according  to  such  graduation  arc  with- 
held, I  cannot  longer,  with  a  good  conscience,  submit.  I 
think  the  influence  is  pernicious.  If  now,  my  dear  father, 


256         A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

you  think  favorable  of  this  plan  of  mine,  and  will  let  me 
have  the  Holmes  Place,  I  shall  abandon  the  pastoral  office 
and  seek  a  living  from  the  cultivation  of  the  soil.  You 
know  I  always  was  a  good  farmer  ;  and  I  think  I  can  suc- 
ceed well  now  in  the  business.  My  wife's  father  gen- 
erously offered  to  give  us  two  thousand  dollars  to  repair 
the  house  and  stock  the  farm. 

"  Should  I  do  this  and  leave  the  pastoral  office,  it  is  not 
my  intention  to  abandon  the  ministry.  Far  from  this.  I 
could  supply  feeble  churches  for  what  they  were  able  to 
pay,  and  I  doubt  not  could  make  myself  useful  in  preach- 
ing. This  I  should  aim  to  accomplish.  I  am  hoping  to 
be  with  you  in  a  few  weeks,  when  we  can  confer  together.''' 

"  There  is  much  truth  in  that  letter,"  Mr.  Eldridge  re- 
marked, "and  many  considerations  deserving  profound 
attention,  I  confess ;  but  I  do  not  know  that  a  minister 
would  be  justified  in  leaving  the  pastoral  office  for  the 
reasons  set  forth  in  this  letter.  I  should  wish  to  think 
and  pray  much  over  the  matter  before  I  came  to  such 
a  decision." 

"  The  brother  who  wrote  this  letter,  I  can  assure  you, 
is  no  ordinary  man,"  Mr.  Pearson  remarked.  "He  is  far 
above  mediocrity  as  a  preacher,  and  has  always  mani- 
fested a  spirit  of  the  most  fervent  piety  and  devotedness 
to  his  profession.  I  never  knew  any  thing  of  the  feeling 
this  letter  discloses  until  I  read  it.  I  supposed  my  young 
friend  was  happy  and  contented  in  his  work." 

"  I  know  the  amount  a  minister  receives  for  his  com- 
pensation does  not  answer  the  same  purpose  for  the  bone- 
lit  of  his  family  which  the  same  sum  would  accomplish  for 
almost  any  other  family  in  the  parish,"  Mr.  Eldridge  ob- 
served. y"He  is  expected  to  do  more  for  the  public  in 
various  ways  than  other  men  ;  and  he  must  rcg  ilate  his 
expenses  with  his  eye  on  the  accommodation  and  gorxj  of 


THE  BEQUEST.  257 

others.  It  is  expected  that  a  minister  will  always  enter- 
tain a  certain  class  of  strangers  who  happen  to  be  in  the 
parish  ;  and  then  he  must  lead  off,  often,  if  not  always, 
subscriptions  for  all  the  benevolent  objects  of  the  day ; 
whereas,  if  he  were  in  private  life,  he  could  make  his 
own  selection  of  the  objects  of  his  charity,  or,  if  he  judged 
it  duty,  withhold  giving  altogether.  Besides,  his  own 
dress  and  that  of  his  family  must  be  more  expensive  ;  and,  _ 
indeed,  all  his  family  expenses  are  necessarily  more  than 
what  they  would  be  if  he  was  not  the  minister  of  the  par- 
ish and  expected  to  please  every  body."—L 

"  This  subject/7  remarked  Mr.  Pearson,  "  enlarges  the 
more  it  is  considered,  I  confess.  I  do  not  know  as  I  ever 
thought  so  much  of  it  until  lately  ;  and  I  really  think  our 
churches  do  not  realize  as  they  might  and  should  the 
difference  between  the  expenses  incident  to  the  support  of 
a  minister's  family  and  position  in  life  and  those  of  a 
private  citizen.  All  the  agents  who  plead  the  cause  of  our 
benevolent  societies,  of  course,  make  the  minister's  house 
their  home  ;  and  then,  again,  if  they  would  succeed  well 
in  their  different  objects,  the  minister  must  head  the  sub- 
scription paper.  He  must  do  all  this  if  he  has  not  paid 
for  his  last  suit  of  clothes  or  for  his  winter's  wood  ;  and 
so  he  is  subjected  to  great  anxiety  in  relation  to  such  ex- 
penses, and  meets  them  only  by  the  most  rigid  economy." 

"  Yes,  yes,"  said  Mr.  Eldridge ;  "  it  must  be  acknowl- 
edged a  minister  has  a  hard  time  of  it  at  the  best,  let  his 
salary  be  what  it  may.  A  people  will  find  some  way  to 
make  it  not  worth  so  much  to  him  as  the  same  amount  would 
be  were  he  in  private  life." 

"  I  have  been  thinking,"  remarked  Mr.  Pearson,  "  of 
going  to  visit  the  father  of  the  young  man  who  wrote  this 
letter,  after  dinner  to-day,  and  would  be  pleased  to  have 
you  accompany  mo.  Perhaps  from  us  both  he  may  be 
able  to  obtain  some  satisfaction  as  to- his  duty  in  relation 
22* 


258  A  VOICE   FROM  THE   PARSONAGE. 

to  the  request  of  his  son.  It  may  be  the  son  is  there  ;  and 
if  so,  we  shall  have  an  opportunity  of  learning  from  him 
more  of  his  own  trials." 

After  dinner  the  two  gentlemen  proceeded  to  the  house 
of  Mr.  Mosely,  which  was  a  ride  of  about  two  miles. 
Having  reached  the  place  and  entered  the  house,  they 
were  very  cordially  welcomed  by  Mrs.  Mosely  and  her 
daughters,  and  soon  by  Mr.  Mosely  himself,  who  was 
summoned  from  the  field  to  be  gratified  and  entertained 
by  a  visit  from  his  pastor  and  clerical  friend.  After 
indulging  a  while  in  general  conversation,  Mr.  Mosely, 
addressing  Mr.  Pearson,  inquired  what  he  thought  of  the 
letter  from  his  son. 

"I  have  attentively  read  the  letter,"  Mr.  Pearson  re- 
marked, "  and  must  confess  there  is  too  much  reason  for 
the  feeling  which  prompted  your  son  to  write  it  ;  yet  I 
cannot  bear  to  think  that  he  must  leave  the  pastoral 
office." 

"  I  don't  want  him  to  do  this,"  replied  the  father  ;  "  it 
tries  me  very  much  ;  but  I  think  there  is  some  ground  for 
his  being  dissatisfied  with  the  manner  in  which  he  is 
obliged  to  lay  out  his  salary,  unless  he  has  more  than  at 
present." 

"  Have  you  heard  from  him  lately  ?  "  Mr.  Pearson  in- 
-  quired. 

"  He  is  at  home,"  was  the  reply.  "  He  arrived  yester- 
day, but  is  now  gone  to  the  village.  We  expect  him  back, 
however,  very  soon." 

"  Does  he  seem  to  be  persuaded  to  follow  out  the  plan 
detailed  in  the  letter?  "  Mr.  Eldridge  asked. 

"  I  should  think  he  did,"  Mr.  Mosely  answered.  "  He 
says  he  cannot  live  any  longer  and  be  supported  by  chari- 
ty, or  feel  that  he  cannot  expend  his  earnings  after  the 
promptings  of  his  own  judgment,  and  be  ruled  by  the 
caprice  and  pride  of  a  people." 


THE   BEQUEST.  259 

"  Then  you  have  decided  to  accede  to  his  wishes,"  Mr. 
Pearson  remarked,  "  and  we  shall  have  him  among  us  ?  " 

"Yes,"  Mr.  Mosely  replied.  "If  he  really  thinks  it 
best  I  shall  gratify  him,  and  let  him  have  the  Holmes 
Place.  There,  he  has  come,  I  believe,"  rising  and  looking 
out  of  the  window  at  the  carriage  approaching  the  house. 

Mr.  Mosely,  the  son,  soon  made  his  appearance  in  the 
parlor,  where  this  conversation  was  going  on  ;  and,  after 
the  usual  inquiries  and  salutations,  he  remarked,  — 

"  I  don't  know,  Mr.  Pearson,  but  that  you  will  have 
some  new  parishioners  soon." 

"  Yes,"  said  the  latter  ;  "  from  what  has  been  said  since  I 
came  in,  I  have  thought  it  probable  ;  but  I  do  not  know 
as  I  ought  to  have  just  such  parishioners  as  it  is  intimated 
I  may  have." 

"  Dismissed  ministers,  they  say,  make  bad  parishioners,  I 
know,"  said  the  young  clergyman  ;  "but  if  I  come  home  to 
live,  I  hope  there  will  be  no  trouble  from  me." 

"  0, 1  did  not  make  my  last  remark,"  Mr.  Pearson  said, 
"  because  I  apprehended  any  trouble  from  the  family  who 
contemplate  occupying  the  Holmes  Place,  I  assure  you.  I 
have  no  doubt  both  our  parish  and  myself  would  be  much 
advantaged  by  such  an  accession  to  our  number.  I  am 
not  yet  fully  persuaded  that  duty  would  be  done  if  Mr. 
Mosely  should  become  a  parishioner." 

"  Well,  sir,"  said  Mr.  Mosely,  "  I  have  thought  very 
much  on  this  subject,  and  have  most  sincerely  and  pain- 
fully regretted  the  necessity  of  such  a  step,  but  have 
about  made  up  my  mind  to  take  it.  To  live  as  I  have 
lived  since  I  have  been  settled  in  the  ministry  I  cannot 
any  longer,  and  so  I  must  live  if  I  continue  a  pastor  ;  for 
I  do  not  think  I  could  eifect  any  difference  in  public  sen- 
timent in  relation  to  the  compensation  of  ministers  which 
would  bring  me  any  relief.  Now,  I  have  what  is  called  a 
large  salary  —  one  thousand  dollars  a  year.  I  know  it  is 


260  A  VOICE  FROM  THE   PARSONAGE. 

difficult  to  make  people  believe  that  I  cannot  live  handsomely  on 
that  sum  ;  but  I  have  tried  to  live,  and  have  not  been  able 
to  make  the  two  ends  of  the  year  meet.  Now,  I  will  tell 
you  how  my  money  goes.  My  house  rent  is  two  hundred 
and  fifty  dollars.  I  am  obliged  to  keep  two  girls,  whom 
I  pay  two  hundred  and  fifty  more,  besides  their  board. 
My  parish  being  large  and  out  of  the  village,  somewhat 
scattered,  places  me  under  the  necessity  of  keeping  a 
horse,  and  that  costs  me  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars 
more  ;  so  my  house,  hired  help,  and  horse  cost  me  six  hun- 
dred and  fifty  dollars :  then  there  are  but  .three  hundred 
and  ffty  dollars  left  for  food,  clothing,  books,  and  inci- 
dental expenses.  Now,  you  may  ask,  '  Why  have  such  an 
expensive  house,  and  why  keep  two  girls  ? 7  I  will  tell 
you.  My  people,  or  the  ruling  spirits  among  them,  RE- 
QUIRE me  to  live  where  I  do  ;  and  the  house  being  large, 
more  help  is  required  to  keep  it  in  order.  My  wife  must 
be  a  l&dy,  or  the  parish  would  rebel ;  she  must  visit  and  be 
ready  to  receive  calls ;  and  so  two  girls  are  absolutely 
needed.  The  second  year  after  I  was  settled  in  my  present 
place  I  resolved  that  I  would  take  a  cheaper  house,  and 
thus  reduce  my  rent  and  other  expenses.  I  partly  en- 
gaged a  suitable  house  about  a  mile  out  of  the  village, 
where  I  could  have  been  contented  and  happy ;  but  when 
it  came  to  be  known  that  I  was  thinking  of  moving  there, 
there  was  such  a  clamor  about  it  from  certain  quarters  that 
I  and  my  best  friends  thought  it  would  not  be  prudent  to 
move.  Had  I  gone  there,  I  could  have  saved  all  of  three 
hundred  dollars  annually" 

"  If  such  be  the  expenditures  you  are  obliged  to  make 
from  year  to  year,"  Mr.  Eldridge  observed,  "for  house, 
help,  and  a  horse,  I  do  not  see  how  you  could  meet  the  "other 
calls  made  upon  you  with  three  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  ; 
and  I  do  not  think  I  should  feel  very  comfortable  in  being 
under  the  necessity  of  calling  upon  relations  to  make  up  to 


.'r  THE   REQUEST.  261 

me  the  amount  needed  to  make  the  two  ends  of  the  year 
meet.  I  should  want  my  people  to  understand  the  matter  ; 
and  perhaps  they  would  either  give  more  salary  or  be 
willing  to  have  me  live  within  that  they  now  pay." 

"  Well,"  Mr.  Mosely  said,  "  a  people  are  governed  by 
custom  in  offering  a  salary  to  a  minister.  Most  ministers 
have  about  the  same  amount  which  is  paid  in  their  com- 
munity, and  regard  is  not  had  so  much  to  the  necessities  of 
a  pastor's  family  as  to  custom.  A  religious  society  would 
not  be  willing  to  pay  less  to  a  minister  than  what  other 
religious  societies  of  their  own  ability  in  the  neighborhood 
pay ;  nor  would  one  be  very  likely  to  advance  much 
on  what  their  neighbors  give.  There  ought  to  be  taken 
into  account  the  difference  of  expenses  between  living  in  one 
parish  or  another ;  but  such  difference  is  apt  to  be  over- 
looked ;  and  it  is  thought  that,  because  a  neighboring  minister 
gets  along  well  on  a  certain  sum,  another  minister  might  do 
the  same  in  a  parish  where  the  expenses  of  living  are 
double,  arising  from  the  habits  of  the  people  among  whom 
he  lives  in  part.  I  have  talked  with  my  people  on  the 
subject,  and  they  say  when  I  talk  with  them  it  ought  not  so  to 
be ;  that  I  ought  to  have  more  salary  ;  but  somehow  or 
other  it  is  difficult  to  bring  them  to  feel  so  intensely  on 
the  subject  as  to  induce  them  in  their  parish  capacity  to 
act.  Talking  in  the  parlor  or  in  private,  private  sympathy 
with  a  pastor,  is  a  very  different  thing  from  a  parish  vote  to 
relieve  a  pastor.  My  people,  whilst  they  say  to  me  pri- 
vately that  my  present  salary  is  insufficient,  would  not  in 
parish  meeting  say  this.  Should  I  ask  more  salary,  I  might 
possibly  get  it ;  but  then  it  would  be  the  occasion  of  ill 
feeling  that  might  lurk  secretly  in  the  bosoms  of  the 
people  for  a  while,  and  in  a  few  years  be  the  means  of  an 
open  rupture.  I  shall  not  ask  for  an  increase  of  salary. 
I  think  I  must  leave  my  people,  and  thus  leave,  too,  the 
pastoral  office." 


262         A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

"  I  do  not  like  the  plan  of  asking  for  an  increase  of 
salary,"  Mr.  Pearson  remarked.  "In  ninety  cases  out  of 
a  hundred  it  is  disastrous;  and  as  brother  Mosely  says, 
whilst  people  privately  say  what  they  now  pay  is  insuffi- 
cient, yet  they  would  not  raise  their  hands  and  advocate 
earnestly  in  parish  meeting  for  an  increase  of  salary.  I 
do  not  know  how  to  reconcile  the  expression  of  private 
sympathy  from  parishioners  towards  a  pastor  with  inac- 
tivity in  their  parish  capacity  to  afford  relief,  unless  it  be 
that  the  parish  think  the  pastor  will  same  way  or  other 
elbow  his  way  out  of  his  embarrassments" 

"  That's  it,  father  Pearson,"  said  Mr.  Mosely.  "  Now, 
my  people  think  that  I  shall  elbow  my  way  out  as  I  have 
always  done,  with  the  help  of  my  father  and  my  wife's 
father;  and  here  is  the  sore  place.  I  cannot  bear  it ;  and  it 
is  my  duty  to  prevent  it.  I  do  not  think  a  parish  ought 
to  be  encouraged  in  having  their  minister  supported  by 
his  friends  who  live  out  of  the  parish.  There  is  brother 
Parker,  settled  near  me  among  a  people  who  are  abun- 
dantly able  to  support  him  handsomely ;  and  yet  they 
think  that,  because  his  wife  has  rich  friends  in  Boston  and 
New  York  who  make  them  many  valuable  presents,  it  is 
710  matter  if  they  do  not  pay  him  more  than  four  hundred 
dollars  a  year,  and  even  that  sum  most  reluctantly  and 
tardily.  I  am  tired  and  sick  of  these  things,  and  I  really 
think  our  churches  ought  to  be  brought  by  some  means  or 
other  to  alter  and  to  do  very  differently." 

"Well,  how  would  you  effect  the  revolution  you  de- 
sire ?  "  Mr.  Eldridge  inquired. 

"  You  see  what  I  am  intending  to  do,"  Mr.  Mosely  re- 
plied. "  I  would  have  these  churches  who  will  not  pay  a 
pastor  a  sufficient  sum  to  enable  him  to  live  go  without  "a 
pastor,  be  compelled  to  go  without  a  pastor,  until  they 
are  ready  to  do  their  duty.  Now,  my  people  pay  me 


THE  BEQUEST.  263 

enough,  provided  they  would  allow  me  to  expend  my  sal- 
ary as  they  would  expend  a  thousand  dollars  a  year." 

As  this  remark  was  finished  some  new  company  was  in- 
troduced, and  further  conversation  on  this  topic  was  inter, 
ruptcd.  It  may  be  remarked,  however,  that  the  Holmes 
Place  was  fitted  up  and  handsomely  stocked  with  all  need- 
ful implements  of  a  well-cared-for  farm,  and  that  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Mosely  there  happily  lived,  meeting  all  the  expenses 
of  his  numerous  family  from  its  productions.  A  weak  and 
worthy  parish  in  the  neighborhood  for  a  long  time  had  his 
ministrations,  till,  through  the  strength  derived  from  his 
wisdom  and  care,  with  the  blessing  of  God  upon  his  labors, 
they  were  able  to  sustain  a  pastor.  Though  not  in  the 
pastoral  office,  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Mosely  continues  useful 
and  acceptable. 


CHAPTER    XXIII. 

A  $IODEL  PARISH. 

WHILST  Mr.  Eldridge  was  passing  a  vacation  at  the 
west  his  good  wife  and  children  were  making  a  visit  to 
the  place  of  her  nativity,  the  home  of  her  parents.  Whilst 
there  she  received  a  letter  from  one  of  her  female  friends 
proposing  to  her  an  excursion  of  about  fifty-five  miles,  and 
promising  to  introduce  her  to  a  parish  which  would  afford 
her  real  pleasure.  This  parish  had  often  been  described 
in  the  correspondence  which  had  for  many  years  existed 
between  the  two  friends,  and  Mrs.  Little  had  frequently 
intimated  to  Mrs.  Eldridge  that  she  hoped  one  day  to 
have  it  in  her  power  to  visit  there  in  her  company.  The 
incumbent  of  the  pastoral  ofifice  in  this  parish  was  an 
uncle  of  Mrs.  Little's,  and  had  been  settled  something  like 
forty  years,  enjoying  the  pleasing  satisfaction  of  minister- 
ing to  the  spiritual  necessities  of  his  people  from  divine 
truth  and  of  witnessing  many  full  and  extensive  harvests. 
So  much  had  been  written  to  her  of  this  parish  that  Mrs. 
Eldridge  had  a  strong  desire  to  visit  it ;  and  though  the 
invitation  to  do  so  now  came  to  her  when  she  was  alike 
absent  from  her  husband  and  their  home,  yet  she  could  not 
find  it  in  her  heart  to  deny  herself  the  pleasure  of  responding 
favorably  to  the  offer ;  and  she  accordingly  wrote  to  Mrs. 
Little  that  she  Would  gladly  avail  herself  of  her  generous 
proposal  and  be  in  readiness  to  meet  her  at  the  depot,  a 

(264) 


A  MODEL   PARISH.  265 

few  miles  from  her  father's  residence,  on  the  day  she  speci- 
fied. Accordingly,  the  next  week,  on  the  appointed  day, 
Mrs.  Eldridge  was  accompanied  by  her  father  to  the  place 
where  the  cars  would  bring  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Little  on  their 
way  to  the  abode  of  the  honored  pastor  and  the  respected 
and  beloved  uncle  in  whose  family  and  from  whose  people 
great  pleasure  had  often  been  experienced  in  days  that 
were  gone.  After  waiting  at  the  depot  about  half  an 
hour,  the  iron  horse  was  seen  at  a  distance  on  the  road 
that  had  but  a  few  years  been  opened  in  the  long  woods 
of  pine,  and  soon  he  came  up  with  mighty  majesty,  and  at 
length  stopped  for  wood,  water,  and  passengers.  The 
train  had  hardly  stopped  before  Mr.  Little  was  on  the 
depot  platform  by  the  side  of  Mrs.  Eldridge  and  her 
father, -with  a  smiling  face  and  ready  hands,  to  assist  a 
most  valued  friend  of  his  wife  to  a  seat  in  the  cars  which 
had  been  kept  vacant  for  her  occupancy,  in  close  proximi- 
ty to  Mrs.  Little,  that  they  might  at  once  enter  on  that 
pleasure,  long  anticipated,  which  friends  strongly  attached 
always  experience  when  they  meet  after  a  long  separation. 
The  baggage  was  quickly  located  in  its  appropriate  place, 
the  aged  father's  hand  was  quickly  pressed,  a  good  by  was 
hastily  uttered,  "All  aboard!"  was  quickly  shouted,  and 
then  the  iron  horse  was  off,  and  with  lightning  speed  was 
soon  beyond  the  reach  of  the  old  man's  vision. 

As  soon  as  the  conversation  began  to  run  on  quiet 
themes,  after  the  many  incidentals  to  a  sudden  meeting 
of  old  friends,  Mrs.  Eldridge  remarked,  — 

"  I  hardly  know  what  my  husband  will  say  when  he  finds 
me  absent  from  my  father's." 

"  When  is  he  expected  there  ?  "  Mrs.  Little  inquired. 

"This  week,   Saturday,"  Mrs.   Eldridge  replied.     "I 

should  have  written  and  informed  him  of  this  excursion 

had   I  known  where  he  was  ;  but,  as  he  was  unsettled 

which  course  to  take  when  he  last  wrote,  I  did  not  know 

23 


266  A  VOICE   FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

where  to  direct  a  letter  With  any  certainty  that  it  would 
find  him.  I  left  a  letter  for  him  at  father's,  explaining  my 
position,  and  saying  that  I  should  not  be  absent  more  than 
four  or  five  days." 

Mrs.  Little  smiled  and  said,  — 

"  I  rather  think  your  husband  will  have  to  wait  longer 
than  that  before  he  will  have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  his 
wife.  We  intend  staying  at  uncle's  ten  days  or  a  fort- 
night." 

At  this  remark  Mrs.  Eldridge  was  overtaken  with  pain- 
ful surprise,  and  quickly  said,  — 

"  I  cannot  possibly  remain  so  long.  Husband's  vacation 
is  up  in  three  weeks,  and  he  wished  to  return  home  by  the 
way  of  New  York  city  and  stop  and  see  some  friends  on 
the  route.  Besides,  there  are  a  number  of  places 'in  the 
vicinity  of  father's  where  we  intended  to  visit  ;  and  it 
will  be  impossible  for  me  to  be  absent  for  ten  days  now." 

"  Perhaps  you  may  think  it  best  to  remain  with  us," 
Mrs.  Little  remarked.  "  We  want  to  have  you  do  so,  for 
'we  think  you  would  never  regret  it.  Your  husband,  I 
guess,  would  not  object  to  a  week's  addition  to  his  vaca- 
tion. It  is  so  terrible  hot  he  won't  do  much  before  the 
middle  of  September." 

"  0,  but  he  engaged  to  be  at  home  on  the  first  Sabbath 
in  next  month,"  Mrs.  Eldridge  said.  "  The  committee 
only  provided  for  the  supply  of  his  pulpit  till  that  time." 

"  Well,  my  good  friend,"  Mrs.  Little  said,  "  when  we 
get  to  uncle's  and  find  that  we  cannot  spare  you  for  a  fort- 
night, I  will  write  to  a  young  minister  of  my  acquaint- 
ance and  engage  him  to  supply  your  husband's  pulpit  at 
my  expense. till  he  returns." 

This  kind  offer  somewhat  relieved  the  anxiety  of  Mrs. 
Eldridge,  and  she  thought  that  it  might  not  be  attended 
with  any  serious  consequences  if  one  or  two  weeks  were 
added  to  her  husband's  absence,  provided  the  parish  did  not 


A   MODEL  PARISH.  267 

have  to  bear  the  expense  of  supplying  the  pulpit.  Indeed, 
Mr.  Eldridge  had  intimated  to  some  of  his  people  that, 
if  any  thing  should  detain  him  into  the  month  of  Septem- 
ber, he  would  arrange  himself  for  the  supply  of  his  desk. 

The  mind  of  Mrs.  Eldridge  being  thus  relieved  of  it\\ 
anxiety,  she  soon  found  herself  in  animated  conversation 
with  her  friends  on  various  themes  that  naturally  came  up 
both  from  past  associations  and  events,  and  objects  which 
were  of  more  recent  date.  The  country,  too,  through 
which  they  were  passing  brought  her  in  contact  with 
many  places  where  lived  friends  both  to  herself  and  Mrs. 
Little  ;  and  conversation  naturally  ran  at  times  in  rela- 
tion to  these  individuals.  After  a  ride  of  about  two  hours 
and  a  half  in  the  cars  their  mode  of  conveyance  was 
changed  to  a  stage  coach,  in  which  they  proceeded  about 
nine  miles,  to  the  residence  of  Mrs.  Little's  uncle.  This 
place  they  reached  about  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  and 
were  most  cordially  welcomed  both  by  the  uncle  and  aunt 
as  well  as  by  the  cousins. 

As  these  visitors  entered  the  house  and  were  proceeding 
to  the  parlor,  the  eye  of  Mrs.  Eldridge  observed  in  the 
opposite  room  a  new  roll  of  carpeting  half  spread  on  the 
floor,  and  one  or  two  ladies  anxiously  looking  on  as  if  in 
perplexity  how  to  arrange  the  figures  so  as  to  have  the 
carpet  well  and  properly  cut.  She  thought  the  one  that 
was  already  on  the  floor  was  a  very  comely  covering,  and 
it  was  a  matter  of  a  little  wonderment  to  her  that  a  new 
carpet  was  thought  to  be  necessary.  However,  it  was  but 
a  passing  thought,  as  such  thoughts  on  other  people's  con- 
cerns will  come  unbidden  at  times  and  are  soon  forgotten. 
Mrs.  Eldridge  soon  found  herself  seated  in  a  very  hos- 
pitable family  and  surrounded  by  those  who  sought  to 
make  her  happy. 

At  the  tea  table,  which  was  surrounded  in  about  an 
hour  after  their  arrival,  Mrs.  Little,  who  sat  at  the  right 


268  A  VOICE   FROM  THE   PARSONAGE. 

hand  of  her  aunt  Howe,  in  a  whisper  remarked  to  her  rel- 
ative, — 

"  I  see  a  piece  of  carpeting  in  the  corner  of  the  room. 
You  wear  out  carpets  as  well  as  other  people,  don't  you, 
aunt  ?  " 

"  0,  yes,"  the  good  lady  audibly  replied  ;  "  but  then  we 
are  not  now  in  need  of  a  new  carpet  for  this  room." 

A  little  blackeyed  girl  of  about  seven  years,  who  sat 
next  to  Mrs.  Little,  a  granddaughter  of  Mrs.  Howe,  with 
a  blushing  cheek  and  a  most  interested  countenance,  quick- 
ly remarked,  — 

"That  carpet  is  a  present.  The  carpet  that  is  on  this 
room  is  going  to  be  put  on  grandpa's  new  study  floor." 

All  at  the  table  were  now  fully  informed  of  another  act 
of  generosity  of  the  people  of  the  parish,  when  Mr.  Howe 
proceeded  to  give  his  friends  a  little  further  account. 

"You  know,  Mary,"  he  said,  turning  to  Mrs.  Little, 
"  that  I  have  for  a  number  of  years  been  thinking  of  build- 
ing a  study  at  the  south-east  corner  of  our  house  ;  and  this 
summer  I  have  accomplished  my  long-cherished  plan.  It 
was  completed  about  a  week  since.  Before  it  was  done, 
some  of  the  good  ladies  here  whispered  to  your  aunt  that, 
if  it  would  be  agreeable,  some  of  our  friends  in  the  parish 
would  like  to  do  something  about  furnishing  it.  So  they 
came  and  talked  over  the  matter  here,  and  finally  con- 
cluded, as  the  carpet  on  this  room  had  been  in  wear  about 
two  years,  they  would  remove  it  to  the  study  and  put  a 
new  one  in  its  place.  So  this  morning  a  valuable  new 
carpet  was  sent  in,  and  this  afternoon  several  ladies  have 
been  in  to  cut  and  make  it." 

"  Your  people  hold  out  yet,  it  seems,  in  their  kind  and 
generous  acts,"  Mr.  Little  observed. 

"  I  wish  my  people  had  a  better  minister,"  Mr.  Howe 
replied  ;  "  for  a  better  parish  cannot  be  found." 

As  the  remark  was  finished  the  door  bell  rang,  and  Mr. 


A  MODEL  PARISH.  269 

Howe  was  called  to  the  parlor.  He  however  quickly 
returned,  followed  by  a  brother  clergyman  of  a  neighbor- 
ing parish,  who  was  soon  seated  with  the  family  at  the 
table. 

The  afternoon  following  the  arrival  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Little,  at  six  o'clock,  was  the  weekly  prayer  meeting  in 
the  vestry  by  the  side  of  the  meeting  house,  that  stood  on 
the  common,  directly  in  front  of  the  parsonage.  It  was  a 
most  pleasant  act  on  the  part  of  their  visitors  to  accept 
the  invitation  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Howe  to  accompany  them 
to  this  hallowed  place.  Whilst  they  were  participating 
in  these  services  a  most  joyful  surprise  entered  the  hearts 
of  these  occasional  guests.  Such  surprise,  in  part,  was  ex- 
cited by  the  large  number  in  attendance  and  by  the  readi- 
ness of  the  brethren  to  take  part  in  the  exercises,  and  the 
intelligence  and  piety  they  manifested  whilst  thus  doing. 
So  deeply  were  they  impressed  with  this  uncommon  spec- 
tacle that  they  could  not  resist  the  inclination  to  make  it 
the  subject  of  many  inquiries  and  pass  many  encomiums 
on  their  return  to  the  parsonage. 

When  they  were  all  seated  in  the  parlor,  Mrs.  Eldridge 
with  great  interest  asked  Mr.  Howe,  — 

"  Do  you  always  have  so  full  an  attendance  at  your 
weekly  prayer  meetings  ?  " 

"  In  pleasant  weather  there  are  always  as  many,  and 
often  a  much  larger  number  out,"  Mr.  Howe  replied. 

"  It  speaks  well  for  the  people,  I  confess,"  Mrs.  El- 
dridge remarked,  "  to  be  so  much  interested  in  these 
meetings." 

"  I  think  it  does,"  Mr.  Howe  observed.  "  It  is  a  great 
source  of  encouragement  to  me." 

"  0,  it  must  be,"  said  Mrs.  Eldridge  ;  "  it  must  encour- 
age and  comfort  you  very  much." 

"  My  people  are  a  very  good  people,  and  I  have  reason 
to  bless  God  for  sending  me  here,"  Mr.  Howe  remarked. 
23* 


270  A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

"  I  could  wish  that  many  parishes  might  follow  their  ex- 
ample. Were  it  followed,  there  would  doubtless  be  more 
fervent  piety  in  our  churches  and  greater  stability  in  our 
ministry.  It  would  not,  moreover,  be  a  difficult  matter  to 
follow  such  an  example,  if  the  members  of  our  churches 
were  interested  as  they  ought  to  be  in  the  great  things 
of  eternity." 

"  They  must  find  it  difficult  sometimes,  I  should  think, 
to  be  present,"  Mrs.  Eldridge  observed. 

"  Undoubtedly  they  do,"  Mr.  Howe  said  ;  "  but  not  so 
difficult  as  one  might  at  first  suppose.  The  members  of 
our  church  know  that  it  is  a  fixed  fact  that  there  will  be 
a  weekly  prayer  meeting,  and  they  generally  know  and  feel 
that  it  is  their  most  sacred  duty  to  be  present.  I  believe 
they  wish  to  be  present.  Accordingly,  they  arrange  their 
business  so  as  not  to  have  it  interfere  with  the  prayer  meet- 
ing. Many  of  our  brethren  follow  marketing  at  a  neigh- 
boring village,  where  there  are  many  factories.  Some  are 
obliged  to  go  every  day.  But,  then,  those  who  are  under 
obligation  to  send  produce  every  day  contrive  on  the  day 
of  our  prayer  meeting  to  be  at  home  in  season  to  come  to 
the  vestry ;  and  others,  who  are  not  obliged  to  go  every 
day,  arrange  it  so  that  they  will  not  go  down  the  day  of 
our  meeting" 

Whilst  Mr.  Howe  was  thus  speaking  a  smile  might  be 
seen  on  the  very  interested  countenance  of  Mr.  Little, 
who  improved  the  first  opportunity  to  remark, — 

"  I  think  it  would  do  one  of  our  deacons  good  to  come 
and  pass  a  little  time  here  ;  do  you  not,  wife  ?  " 

"  0  husband,  I  would  not  reflect  on  any  of  our  friends 
at  home,"  Mrs.  Little  remarked. 

"  Well,"  Mr.  Little  said,  "  I  do  like  to  see  consistency 
of  conduct,  and  I  think  the  people  here  manifest  this,  and 
I  thought  one  of  our  deacons  might  be  profited  by  passing 
a  few  weeks  up  here." 

"  How  so  ?  "  Mr.  Howe  inquired. 


A  MODEL  PARISH.  271 

"  We  have  a  deacon,"  Mr.  Little  observed,  "  who  gave 
very  good  evidence  of  piety  and  was  for  a  number  of 
years  a  very  engaged  Christian ;  but  latterly  he  is  very 
much  troubled  with  a  diseased  stomach,  so  much  so  as  to 
be  unable  to  be  punctual  in  his  attendance  on  prayer 
meetings — .and  on  Sabbath  services,  for  that  matter.  He 
works  hard,  is  out  in  all  weathers  ;  and  if  there  happens 
to  be  an  auction,  or  any  other  gathering,  on  the  day  of  a 
prayer  meeting,  his  diseased  stomach  is  not  apt  to  be  in 
the  way  of  his  being  present ;  but,  somehow  or  other,  his 
disorder  works  curiously  at  about  the  hour  of  prayer  meet- 
ing ;  he  has  to  lie  by  then  ;  he  can  hardly  stir.  If,  how- 
ever, his  business  calls  him  ten  or  twelve  miles  from  home 
the  next  day,  —  no  matter  if  he  must  be  at  this  "distance 
by  sunrise,  —  he  is  sure  to  be  there.  He  gets  pretty  well 
worn  down  by  Saturday  night,  and  his  disorder  is  very 
apt  to  be  violent  on  the  Sabbath;  so  that  he  is  not  at 
church  more  than  half  the  time.  I  really  think,  if  he  could 
only  come  up  here  and  inhale  this  atmosphere,  he  might 
soon  be  an  altered  man.  I  wish  he  would  ;  for  he  is  want- 
ed down  our  way  for  a  deacon,  and,  if  his  health  was  good, 
he  might  do  extensive  good." 

"  Does  this  deacon  excuse  himself  from  attending  your 
prayer  meetings  and  on  the  Sabbath  by  alleging  his  dis- 
eased stomach,  when  he  will  not  allow  such  reason  to 
detain  him  from  his  business  ?  "  Mr.  Howe  inquired. 

"  0,  sometimes,  when  business  is  not  very  driving, 
lie  is  troubled  with  his  disease,"  Mr.  Little  said ;  "  but  it 
is  amusing  to  see  how  convenient  it  is  for  him  to  have 
this  disease  when  we  have  our  prayer  meetings  and  on  Sun- 
days. I  have  no  doubt  the  deacon  is  somewhat  diseased  ; 
but,  then,  if  he  was  now  what  he  once  was,  he  would  not  let 
his  disease  detain  him  from  our  religious  meetings  if  ho 
could  attend  to  his  business." 

"  I  think,"  Mr.  Howe  observed,  "  Christians  should  mani- 


272  A   VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

fest  their  piety,  should  show  a  difference  from  the  people 
of  the  world ;  and  I  know  of  no  better  way  for  them  to  do 
this  than  by  honoring  God  in  his  sanctuary,  and  by  their 
engagedness  in  calling  upon  him  at  the  throne  of  grace. 
If  professors  are  what  they  ought  to  be,  they  will  forego 
their  own  interest  for  the  sake  of  spending  an  hour  together 
during  the  week  in  seeking  God's  blessing  on  their  church 
and  ministry  and  on  a  world  lying  in  wickedness.  I  do 
not  think  there  are  many  in  our  church  who  would  enjoy 
themselves  much  in  being  absent  from  our  prayer  meetings 
or  from  Sabbath  services,  unless  they  were  prevented  in 
the  providence  of  God  from  being  present.  The  great  in- 
terest which  the  members  of  our  church  have  in  these 
meetings  is  a  marked  peculiarity  in  their  character." 

"  If  your  deacon  is  really  uninterested  in  religious 
meetings,  as  I  should  judge  he  was  from  his  being  able  to 
attend  to  his  business  in  all  weathers  notwithstanding  his 
diseased  stomach,"  Mrs.  Howe  observed,  "  I  should  think 
his  influence  would  be  disastrous  in  your  parish." 

"  Well,  it  really  is,"  Mrs.  Little  said.  "  The  other  dea- 
con is  very  aged  and  infirm,  and  is  unable  to  go  from 
home  much  ;  and  therefore  we  have,  as  it  were,  but  one 
deacon ;  and  to  have  him  so  worldly  is  a  serious  evil. 
He  is  looked  up  to  for  an  example  ;  and,  because  he  is  so 
infrequent  at  our  prayer  meetings,  other  brethren  justify 
themselves  in  being  absent ;  and  the  consequence  is,  we 
have  a  very  small  attendance,  and  such  meetings  exist 
only  in  name." 

A  few  days  from  this  conversation,  as  Mrs.  Eldridge 
was  alone  in  the  parlor,  with  the  entry  door  ajar,  she  heard 
Mrs.  Howe  remark  to  a  little  girl  whom  she  was  accom- 
panying to  the  door,  — 

"  Give  my  love  to  your  mother,  and  tell  her  I  am  very 
much  obliged  to  her  for  her  present,  and  hope  we  are  very 
grateful  to  her,  and  to  your  father  likewise,  for  all  their 
kindness." 


A  MODEL  PARISH.  273 

Entering  the  room,  then,  where  Mrs.  Eldridge  was  sit- 
ting, Mrs.  Howe  said,  — 

"  Look  here,  Mrs.  Eldridge,  and  see  the  valuable  present 
I  have  just  received ! " 

"  That  is  a  present  indeed,"  Mrs.  Eldridge  said.  "  What 
very  nice  silk !  It  must  have  cost  a  dollar  and  a  quarter  a 
yard.  It  will  make  a  fine  dress.  You  seem  to  be  highly 
favored  with  such  attentions  from  your  people." 

"  Yes,  we  are,"  Mrs.  Howe  observed.  "  We  have  a. 
very  kind  and  considerate  people.  It  is  very  seldom  that 
we  have  to  purchase  any  article  of  dress.  The  ladies  are 
very  attentive  to  me,  and  the  gentlemen  look  out  well  for 
Mr.  Howe.  I  believe  he  has  not  purchased  but  one  suit 
of  clothes  for  twenty  years.  His  hats,  and  cloaks,  and 
other  garments  all  come  in  as  this  piece  of  silk  has ;  and 
it  makes  a  great  difference  in  our  salary,  I  assure  you." 

"  0,  it  must,"  Mrs.  Eldridge  observed.  "  It  must  save 
you  a  hundred  and  fifty  or  two  hundred  dollars  a  year." 

"  That  is  what  we  have  thought,"  Mrs.  Howe  said ; 
"  and  then  our  children  have  been  pretty  much  all  clothed 
with  presents  from  the  people.  There  are  few  such  par- 
ishes as  ours,  Mrs.  Eldridge." 

"So  I  have  long  thought,"  Mrs.  Eldridge  observed, 
"from  what  Mrs.  Little  has  often  informed  me  of  your 
people ;  and,  since  I  have  been  here,  I  have  thought  '  the 
half  had  not  been  told  me.'  I  should  think  you  had  presents 
almost  every  day." 

"  We  do  have  them  very  often.  The  truth  is,  I  believe 
almost  every  family  in  the  parish  mean  to  give  us  something 
every  year  ;  the  very  poorest  send  some  trifling  expression 
of  their  regard  ;  but,  then,  we  always  more  than  make  it 
up  to  such  parishioners.  It  is  very  pleasant,  however,  to 
have  them  disposed  to  remember  us." 

"I  should  like  to  have  it  so,"  Mrs.  Eldridge  said. 
"  Presents  coming  from  families  in  different  parts  of  tho 


274  A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

parish  furnish  much,  encouragement  to  a  minister,  inasmuch 
as  they  indicate  a  good  state  of  feeling  ;  and,  you  know, 
ministers  are  very  sensitive  creatures  ;  they  like  to  have 
their  people  feel  kindly  towards  them,  for  then  they  can 
be  more  instrumental  of  good." 

"  I  wonder  people  don't  think  more  of  this  than  they  do," 
Mrs.  Howe  observed.  "  It  is  truly  a  great  encouragement 
to  a  pastor  to  know  and  feel  that  his  people  all  regard 
him  with  affection  ;  and  then,  again,  how  very  much  they 
might  relieve  him  by  doing  as  oar  people  do — send  him 
from  time  to  time  such  things  as  they  can  spare  without 
feeling  it  in  the  least,  and  which  would  save  the  minister 
many  dollars  in  the  course  of  the  year ! " 

"  0,  you  do  not  mean  to  say  that  people  could  send  such 
a  present  as  you  have  just  received  without  feeling  it  ?  " 
Mrs.  Eldridge  said. 

"  0,  no,  indeed.  People  in  general  could  not  do  so  ; 
but  the  family  from  which  this  dress  came  don't  feel  such 
a  present.  They  are  rich,  and  Mr.  Hanson  is  making 
money  very  fast.  But,  then,  our  farmers  could  send  a  little 
butter,  or  potatoes,  and  such  like,  you  know,  and  not  feel 
what  they  sent  in  the  least.  Now,  our  people  do  so.  We 
have  beef  and  pork,  apples,  potatoes,  &c.,  sent  in  from  dif- 
ferent families  ;  and  in  the  course  of  the  year  it  amounts 
to  much,  I  assure  you." 

"  How  much  is  your  husband's  salary  ?  "  Mrs.  Eldridge 
inquired. 

"  Mr.  Howe  was  settled,  you  know,  about  forty  years 
ago,  with  a  salary  of  six  hundred  dollars ;  and  this  is  his 
present  salary ;  but,  then,  times  have  changed  since,  and 
expenses  of  living  are  much  larger.  Our  people  feel  this, 
and  would  have  raised  the  salary  ten  or  fifteen  years  ago  ; 
but  Mr.  Howe  thought  it  would  not  be  best,  and  has  dis- 
couraged it.  The  people  told  him  they  were  able  to  pay 
more  and  were  willing  to  do  so,  and,  if  they  were  called 


A  MODEL  PARISH.  275 

to  settle  a  successor,  should  expect  to  pay  two  or  three 
hundred  dollars  more  ;  but  husband  said  he  had  rather 
not  have  his  salary  raised.  He  was  satisfied  with  what 
he  received.  I  suppose  he  has  the  more  presents  by  rea- 
son of  this,  as  our  people  do  not  mean  to  have  it  said  that 
parishes  around  us  who  are  settling  new  ministers  pay 
more  than  they  do.  I  have  no  doubt  that  we  receive  as 
good  as  ten  hundred  dollars  a  year." 

"Well,  I  suppose,"  Mrs.  Eldridge  said,  "if  your  hus- 
band should  be  taken  away,  your  people  would  have  to 
pay  a  salary  of  a  thousand  dollars." 

"0,  yes ;  that  is  what  they  say  ;  and  they  do  not  feel  like 
paying  Mr.  Howe  less  than  what  they  would  have  to  pay  a 
young  man." 

"  I  admire  this  trait  in  the  character  of  your  people," 
Mrs.  Eldridge  said.  "  Now,  I  know  several  parishes  who 
pride  themselves  on  saving  three  or  four  hundred  dollars  a 
year  because  their  ministers  were  settled  some  -years  ago, 
when  salaries  were  not  so  high  as  they  are  at  present ;  and 
I  think  it  is  shameful  in  them." 

"  It  is,  truly,"  Mrs.  Howe  said.     "  When  pastors  have 

grown  gray  in  the  service  of  a  people  they  ought  to  be 

well  cared  for  and  treated  as  generously  as  they  would 

•  treat  a  young  man.     Our  people  would  not  be  guilty  of 

such  meanness,  I  know.     At  any  rate,  they  are  not." 

During  the  visit  of  Mrs.  Eldridge  she  took  occasion  to 
inquire  of  Mr.  Howe  if  the  waters  of  his  parish  always 
ran  smoothly  ;  if  there  had  not  been  sometimes  tumultuous 
waves. 

"  I  have  a  very  considerate  people,  madam,"  the  good  man 
replied,  "  and  to  their  candor  and  good  sense  I  am  indebted 
for  uncommon  quietude  in  my  ministry  thus  far.  Had  I 
been  in  some  parishes  I  have  no  doubt  my  course  would 
have  been  very  uneven,  and  it  is  probable  I  should  have 
been  dismissed  twice  or  thrice.  There  have  been  times 


276  A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

•when  clouds  have  darkened  my  horizon ;  but  they  have 
stood  but  for  a  moment.  I  have  always  had  parishioners 
who  acted  from  principle  and  were  guided  by  intelligence 
and  the  spirit  of  the  gospel.  They  have  seen  failures  in 
me,  and  have  apologized  for  them  to  those  who  would  have 
made  use  of  them  to  my  great  disadvantage.  The  leading 
characters  in  the  parish  have  felt  that  ministers  were  but 
men  ;  and  they  have  always  been  disposed  to  put  a,  favor  able 
construction  upon  my  conduct,  and  to  hold  me  up  when  any 
restless  spirits  have  attempted  to  bring  me  down.  The  fact  is, 
the  great  body  of  my  people,  Mrs.  Eldridge,  have  no 
manner  of  sympathy  with  that  spirit  which  exists  in  so 
many  parishes  at  the  present  day  that  leads  to  such  fre- 
quent dismission  of  ministers.  They  think  it  is  wrong, 
that  it  is  wicked,  and  that  it  is  ruinous  both  to  parishes 
and  ministers.  They  feel  that  a  people  ought  to  bear  and 
forbear  in  their  treatment  of  pastors,  and  that  tJiere  is  no 
otJier  way  of  getting  along  this  side  heaven,  seeing  all 
men,  ministers  as  well  as  others,  are  frail  and  imperfect. 
They  know  that  they  cannot  have  a  perfect  minister,  and 
they  are  wise  enougli  not  to  make  the  attempt  after  such." 

"  The  more  I  become  acquainted  with  the  history  and 
character  of  your  people,"  Mrs.  Eldridge  said,  "  the  more 
I  discover  to  admire  and  commend.  I  think  they  deserve , 
a  premium  for  having  discovered  that  tJiere  are  no  perfect 
ministers,  and  for  not  trying  to  obtain  what  they  know  tJiey 
cannot  find." 

"That  is  a  great  thing  to  know,  and  to  feel,  and  to  be 
governed  by ;  there  are  no  perfect  ministers,"  Mr.  Howe 
said.  ",The  ministry  is  committed  to  earthen  vessels.  No 
doubt  ministers  might  be  better  than  they  are,  —  for  one,  I 
feel  that  I  ought  to  be  much  better  than  I  am,  —  but  they 
are  but  men,  and  people  ought  to  regard  them  as  entitled 
to  the  same  candid  consideration  which  is  accorded  to 
other  men. 


A   MODEL  PARISH.  277 

"  If  our  parishes  would  thus  regard  ministers,"  Mrs.  El- 
dridge  observed,  "  how  much  better  it  would  be  for  them ! 
and  how  much  more  good  might  be  accomplished  by  minis- 
ters, to  say  nothing  of  the  pleasure  and  peace  ministers 
would  then  enjoy !  Now,  people  know  that  there  is  no 
perfection  this  side  heaven  ;  they  know  they  cannot  have 
a  perfect  minister  ;  and  it  is  strange  that  they  will  attempt 
to  obtain  one.  I  know  a  number  of  parishes  who  within 
the  last  twenty  years  have  dismissed  several  most  excellent 
ministers,  as  good  men  as  are  to  be  found,  as  talented,  as 
eloquent,  as  learned  ;  and  the  reason  was,  that  they  saw 
some  things  in  them  which  did  not  exactly  suit ;  and  so 
they  turncdfthem  off,  expecting  to  be  better  phased  ;  but  they 
have  not  bettered  themselves  yet;  and  the  probability  is,  some 
of  them  will  be  rent  to  pieces  whilst  contending  about 
what  makes  a  perfect  minister  ;  for  you  know  there  is  a 
di/erence  of  opinion  on  this  point" 

"  But  you  know," Mr.  Howe  was  proceeding,  but  was 

interrupted  by  the  entrance  of  his  wife  with  a  letter  for 
Mrs.  Eldridge,  who,  upon  seeing   the   superscription,  ex- 
claimed, "  This  is  from  my  husband  I "     Craving  permission 
to  read  it,  the  further  conversation  was  suspended. 
24 


CHAPTER    XXIY. 

THE  LETTER. 

THE  epistle  which  was  put  into  Mrs.  Eldridge's  hands, 
and  that  interrupted  the  conversation  detailed,  in  the  pre- 
ceding chapter,  was  from  her  beloved  husband.  The  main 
object  of  this  letter  was  to  convey  to  her  the  most  melan- 
choly intelligence  that  their  firm  and  steadfast  friend  Mrs. 
Davidson  was  just  lingering  on  the  borders  of  time,  with 
the  expectation  of  her  friends  that  every  day  would  intro- 
duce her  to  the  eternal  world.  Mr.  Eldridge,  therefore, 
wished  her  to  excuse  his  waiting  at  her  father's  for  her 
return,  as  he  should  leave  at  once  for  the  scene  of  his  pas- 
toral duties,  that  he  might  be  once  more  with  one  who  had 
been  to  him  such  a  valued  friend,  and  do  all  that  he  could 
to  comfort  the  dying  saint  and  administer  consolation  to 
her  afflicted  family. 

Mrs.  Eldridge  could  no  longer  enjoy  herself  away  from 
her  husband  and  the  scene  where  were  those  sorrows 
which  had  gathered  in  the  mansion  of  the  squire.  She 
hastened  her  return  to  her  father's,  and  from  thence  to  her 
own  home,  and  was  but  two  days  behind  her  husband  in 
arriving  there.  It  was,  however,  too  late  to  see  the  liv- 
ing Mrs.  Davidson.  Her  last  enemy  had  conquered  the 
evening  preceding  the  noon  when  Mrs.  Eldridge  arrived 
at  home  ;  and  Death  had  her  cold  and  emaciated,  in  readi- 
ness for  the  tomb. 

(278) 


THE  LETTER.  279 

More  severe  grief  could  hardly  have  torn  both  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Eldridge  had  an  own  parent  been  thus  despoiled  of 
earthly  existence  ;  for  from  the  friend  who  had  lately  left 
them  they  had  for  years  most  constantly  received  the 
warmest,  tenderest  expressions  of  friendship  and  love.  A 
stranger,  on  entering  the  parlor  where  was  the  venerable 
squire,  bowed  down  in  the  dust  by  the  loss  he  was  bemoan- 
ing, with  his  sons  and  daughters,  all  of  whom  had  been 
allowed  to  meet  in  the  chamber  of  a  dying  mother,  and 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eldridge,  would  have  found  it  difficult  to  dis- 
tinguish any  difference  in  the  grief  in  those  stricken  hearts. 
Probably  there  was  not  much  difference;  for  all  were 
bound  to  the  dead  most  firmly.  Affection,  we  know,  when 
it  is  true  and  real,  hath  cords  as  strong  as  those  of  Nature's 
creation  ;  and  surely  none  ever  doubted  the  genuineness 
of  the  love  in  both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eldridge  for  the  departed 
friend  or  her  honored  companion. 

When  the  last  offices  of  affection  had  been  rendered 
and  the  grave  had  received  another  token  of  its  power, — 
when  the  mourners  began  again  to  look  after  the  affairs  of 
earth  after  having  had  their  attention  completely  absorbed 
by  the  things  which  are  not  of  this  world,  —  Mr.  Eldridge 
took  the  letters  which  had  accumulated  in  his  absence,  and 
began  their  perusal.  There  was  one  among  them  which 
made  a  deep  impression  on  his  mind,  and  drew  from  him 
the  greatest  attention  ;  for  it  touched  on  a  theme  that  ever 
interested  the  friend  who  had  lately  been  called  away,  and 
upon  which  s/ie  never  was  too  feeble  or  fatigued  to  dwell  ; 
viz.,  the  trials  of  a  gospel  minister.  This  letter  was  from 
a  clerical  friend  who  had  been  settled  in  Mr.  Eldridge's 
vicinity  about  seven  years,  in  which  he  gave  the  unpleas- 
ant information  that  he  was  about  asking  a  dismission. 

This  information  was  no  more  unpleasant  than  it  was 
surprising  ;  for  Mr.  Eldridge  had  supposed  that  his  friend 
was  ardently  attached  to  his  people  and  that  they  were 


280  A  VOICE   FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

happily  united  in  love  and  affection  to  him.  He  could  not 
brook  the  consideration  that  the  tie  that  bound  them 
together  should  be  severed ;  and,  moreover,  he  was  not 
ready  to  have  one  held  so  dear  by  himself  leave  his  own 
vicinity  and  go  where  their  intimacy  would  be  interrupted, 
if  not  entirely  broken  off.  He  sat  an  hour  or  more  in  his 
study  contemplating  the  subject,  and  at  last  concluded  that 
he  would,  in  the  afternoon,  ride  over  to  the  parish  of  Mr. 
Bertram,  and,  if  possible,  prevent  his  carrying  into  execu- 
tion his  plan  of  leaving.  Accordingly,  Mr.  Eldridge,  after 
dinner,  made  his  way  to  his  valued  friend,  whom  he  found  at 
home,  and  with  his  request  for  a  dismission  already  writ- 
ten, to  be  communicated  to  his  people  on  the  following 
Sabbath. 

"I  am  happy  to  find  that  you  have  not  presented  your 
request,"  Mr.  Eldridge  remarked  ;  "  and  I  think  you  must 
secede  from  your  determination  to  do  so,  at  least  for  the 
present.  I  have  come  over  to  prevent  your  leaving,  if  I 
can.  Now,  tell  me  what  has  transpired  to  induce  you  to 
think  of  doing  so." 

"  I  have  always  determined  that  I  would  not  remain 
among  my  people,"  Mr.  Bertram  replied,  "  after  I  ascer- 
tained that  there  was  any  dissatisfaction  with  me ;  and  I 
have  within  a  few  weeks  discovered  that  there  is  uneasi- 
ness here,  and  so  I  shall  take  myself  off." 

"  What  have  you  heard  against  you  ? "  Mr.  Eldridge 
inquired. 

"  0,  I  have  not  heard  any  thing  very  particular.  It  has 
been  pretty  strongly  hinted,  however,  that  the  people 
would  like  a  new  minister." 

"  Hinted  !  "  said  Mr.  Eldridge.  "  By  whom  ?  Has  Deacon 
Brown  or  Colonel  Lowe  said  any  thing  like  this  to  you  ?  " 

"  0,  no.  I  have  not  changed  a  word  with  them  on  the 
subject.  I  have  not  seen  many  of  our  people  of  late  ;  for 
I  supposed  what  I  had  heard  to  be  true,  and  I  did  not  care 


THE  LETTER.  281 

about  conversing  on  the  subject,  as  I  have  made  up  my 
mind  to  leave." 

"  Well,  you  have  heard  from  some  one  that  the  people 
desired  a  new  minister,  you  say  ;  and  I  wish  you  would 
inform  me  from  whom  you  had  the  information." 

"  I  have  no  objection  to  telling  you,"  said  Mr.  Bertram. 
"About  three  weeks  ago  Mr.  Peabody  and  Mr.  Cady 
called  in  to  see  me,  as  they  said,  for  the  purpose  of  con- 
versing upon  the  state  of  the  church  and  parish.  I  readily 
entered  into  conversation  with  them  on  the  subject,  sup- 
posing they  had  some  plan  on  foot  for  the  accomplishment 
of  good  here,  and  in  which  they  wished  my  cooperation. 
I  soon  found,  however,  that  they  came  to  inform  me  that 
my  services  as  pastor  were  unacceptable,  and  that  it  would 
be  pleasing  to  the  people  if  I  would  in  a  quiet  way  take 
myself  off.  They  said  they  supposed  I  was  not  aware  of 
the  state  of  feeling  towards  me  ;  that  they  felt  that  I 
ought  to  be  apprised  of  it ;  and  that  it  was  the  duty  of 
some  to  make  me  acquainted  with  the  facts  in  the  case. 
They  said  it  was  a  very  painful  subject  to  talk  upon,  and 
that  they  had  hesitated  long  before  coming  to  see  me  in 
relation  to  it ;  but  at  last  their  consciences  would  not  allow 
them  to  be  longer  silent,  and  so  they  came  this  evening  to 
discharge  their  duty.  I  asked  them  what  was  alleged 
against  me.  They  said,  nothing  in  particular.  The  people 
all  liked  me  very  much  as  a  man  ;  but  they  should  be  better 
pleased  and  edified  with  a  different  minister.  This  was 
the  substance  of  all  they  said,  although  they  were  here 
talking  about  two  hours." 

"  Well,  yo'u  say  you  have  never  conversed  on  the  sub- 
ject with  any  of  your  people,  and  are  yet  intending  to 
ask  for  a  dismission?"  Mr.  Eldridge  remarked. 

"  Yes  ;  I  have  had  no  wish  to  talk  about  my  matters 
with  my  people.  If  they  are  dissatisfied  with  me,  I  am 
ready  to  leave,"  Mr.  Bertram  said. 


282          A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

"  Have  you  any  objection  to  my  seeing  a  few  of  the 
people  and  making  them  acquainted  with  the  state  of 
your  present  feeling  ?  " 

"  No,  not  that  I  know  of ;  but  I  should  prefer  that  you 
would  not.  I  am  not  very  particular  about  it,  however, 
as  they  will  all  know  it  on  the  Sabbath." 

Mr.  Eldridge,  being  well  acquainted  in  the  parish,  was 
induced  by  his  deep  interest  in  Mr.  Bertram  to  move  with 
considerable  energy  among  his  people,  that  he  might  be- 
come acquainted  with  the  state  of  feeling  towards  their 
pastor,  and,  if  possible,  prevent  his  being  dismissed.  He 
first  called  on  Deacon  Brown,  who  lived  near  the  par- 
sonage. After  the  first  salutations  were  over,  he  began  by 
inquiring  after  the  condition  of  Mr.  Bertram.  He  soon 
found  that  the  deacon  was  wholly  ignorant  of  any  dis- 
satisfaction with  the  pastor,  and,  when  told  of  the  present 
state  of  Mr.  Bertram's  feelings,  was  greatly  surprised  and 
exasperated  at  the  cause. 

"  I  have  supposed,"  said  the  deacon,  "  all  of  our  people 
were  very  much  attached  to  Mr.  Bertram  ;  and  I  really  be- 
lieve they  are." 

"  He  thinks  there  is  dissatisfaction,  and  has  his  request 
for  a  dismission  already  written,  and  is  designing  to  pre- 
sent it  next  Sabbath,"  Mr.  Eldridge  observed. 

"  He  must  not"  the  deacon  said.  " It  will  not  do.  Mr. 
Bertram  has  been  deceived  —  has  been  grossly  misin- 
formed." 

"  Well,  deacon,  I  wish  you  would  get  into  the  carriage 
with  me,  and  we  will  call  on  some  few  individuals.  If 
there  is  any  uneasiness  here,  we  can  soon  discover  it,  I 
think." 

The  deacon  was  ready  at  once  to  join  Mr.  Eldridge  in 
such  a  mission.  They  accordingly  passed  about  among 
the  people,  and  found  the  leading  characters  in  the  parish 
in  the  same  ignorance  of  a  desire  for  a  change  of  ministry 


THE  LETTER.  283 

as  the  deacon  was.  One  individual  who  lived  near  Mr. 
Peabody's,  whilst  expressing  his  hot  displeasure  at  this 
plan,  this  infamous  plan,  to  effect  the  dismission  of  a  most 
valuable  pastor,  as  he  expressed  himself,  remarked,  — 

"  I  now  understand  what  Mr.  Cady  and  Mr.  Peabody 
have  been  up  to  of  late.  I  have  seen  them  together  al- 
most every  day  for  a  number  of  weeks  past,  and  I  could 
not  imagine  what  their  particular  business  was  ;  but  now 
it  is  all  out.  I  rather  think  they  will  find  themselves 
ashore  this  time  without  any  cargo." 

"When  Mr.  Eldridge  and  the  deacon  had  satisfied  them- 
selves that  Mr.  Bertram  had  been  greatly  deceived  and 
grossly  misinformed  in  relation  to  the  state  of  feeling 
towards  him  in  the  parish,  they  returned  to  his  house  and 
let  him  know  the  result  of  their  investigations. 

"  Can  it  be  possible,"  Mr.  Bertram  said,  after  having  heard 
the  many  expressions  of  confidence  and  esteem  which  had 
been  repeated  to  him  from  his  people  by  both  Mr.  Eldridge 
and  the  deacon, — "can  it  be  possible  that  Mr.  Peabody 
and  Mr.  Cady  would  come  here  and  tell  me  the  great 
body  of  the  people  were  desirous  of  a  new  minister,  when 
you  say  there  is  hardly  an  individual  besides  them  but 
would  mourn  at  my  departure?  I  confess  I  am  aston- 
ished." 

"I  don't  see,"  the  deacon  said,  "how  these  brethren 
could  have  told  you  what  they  did.  They  must  have 
known  to  the  contrary,  I  think.  Well,  it  is  pretty  cer- 
tain that  they  would  like  to  have  you  go  away." 

"  Yes,"  said  Mr.  Eldridge  ;  "  there  can  be  no  doubt  of 
that ;  and  it  was  a  plan  of  theirs  to  effect  Mr.  Bertram's 
dismission." 

"  Well,"  said  the  deacon,  "  I  am  glad  we  found  it  out 
as  we  did,  before  Mr.  Bertram  had  presented  his  request ; 
for  I  never  like  to  have  a  minister  ask  for  a  dismission. 
There  is  always  some  unpleasant  consequence  or  other 
from  it." 


284  A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

"  I  thought,"  Mr.  Eldridge  said,  "  that  brother  Bertram 
ought  not  to  leave.  I  could  not  bear  to  have  him  do  so. 
I  could  not  bring  my  mind  to  the  belief  that  it  was  neces- 
sary that  he  should  leave  ;  and  so  I  came  over  to  prevent 
it  if  possible." 

"  We  shall  all  be  under  great  obligations  to  you,"  Dea- 
con Brown  observed,  "  for  coming  over  and  manifesting 
the  interest  you  have.  It  would  have  been  unfortunate 
if  our  first  knowledge  of  dissatisfaction  with  our  pastor 
had  come  to  us  in  his  request  for  a  dismission.  I  do  not 
think  he  would  have  got  his  dismission ;  but  he  might  if 
he  was  not  so  much  liked,  however.  I  have  heard  of  a 
minister's  asking  for  a  dismission  in  consequence  of  the 
efforts  of  one  or  two  individuals  upon  him,  when  his  peo- 
ple were  not  dreaming  of  his  leaving  them,  who  was  dis- 
missed without  much  trouble." 

"How  was  that?"  Mr.  Eldridge  inquired. 

"  0,"  said  the  deacon,  "  the  people  of  this  minister  were 
rather  a  stupid  set,  and  they  did  not  have  interest  enough 
in  ministers'  matters  to  turn  out  to  the  parish  meeting  ;  and 
so  a  few,  four  or  five,  did  the  whole  business,  and  he  was 
dismissed.  If  he  had  not  asked  for  a  dismission  he  might 
have  died  among  his  people ;  for  they  never  would  have 
turned  him  away  if  there  had  been  a  good  reason.  But 
there  was  no  reason  whatever  for  his  dismission.  The 
people  said  they  liked  him  well  enough;  but,  if  he  wanted  to 
go,  he  might  for  all  them.  Most  of  the  people  in  the 
parish  did  not  know  for  some  time  after  he  was  dismissed 
that  he  had  been  induced  to  ask  for  a  dismission  by  the 
representation  that  he  was  not  popular  with  tlie  people" 

"  Ministers  are  very  sensitive  creatures,"  Mr.  Eldridgo 
remarked  ;  "  and  one  or  two  crafty  parishioners  may  take 
advantage  of  this  weakness  and  easily  effect  the  dismis- 
sion of  a  minister.  They  can  tell  him  that  his  people 
don't  like  him ;  he  will  believe  it,  and  treat  them  with 


THE  LETTER.  285 

coldness,  and  so  make  enemies.  I  have  known  several  in- 
stances of  pastors  being  dismissed  in  this  way.  Ministers 
ought  not  to  hear  every  wind  that  blows.  When  they 
have  evidence  that  any  are  dissatisfied  with  them,  they 
ought  not  to  show  this  knowledge  in  coldness,  or  indifference^ 
or  hard  speeches.  If  they  alter  any  in  their  conduct,  they 
should  be  more  attentive  to  the  individuals  opposed,  more 
conciliating.  The  fire  would  often  go  out  and  contention 
and  animosity  cease*.  I  have  known  one  or  two  ministers, 
who  have  grown  old  in  the  service  of  their  people,  who 
would  have  been  dismissed  long  ago  if  they  had  asked  for 
a  dismission.  Frequently  have  they  been  waited  on  by 
individuals  and  been  told  that  a  new  minister  would  be 
acceptable  to  the  people ;  but  they  maintained  their  temper 
all  the  while,  and  never  let  it  be  known  by  the  least  whis- 
per or  the  least  variation  of  their  kind  treatment  to  any 
that  they  had  heard  that  any  dissatisfaction  existed  to- 
wards them." 

"  How  could  such  pastors  do  good  if  the  people  wished 
them  to  leave  ?  "  Mr.  Bertram  inquired. 

"  There  was  nothing  which  could  be  brought  against 
them,"  Mr.  Eldridge  said.  "They  are  good  preachers 
and  consistent  men  ;  but  they  are  not  great  men.  Some 
of  their  people  thought,  as  the  parishes  had  greatly  in- 
creased in  consequence  of  railroads  which  run  through 
them  and  of  manufacturing  which  had  been  introduced, 
that  they  ought  to  have  ministers  who  were  more  eloquent 
and  popular.  They  knew  they  could  not  effect  the  dismis- 
sion of  these  ministers  if  they  were  disposed  to  stay  ;  and 
so  they  resorted  to  the  contemptible  course  of  waiting  on 
them  and  telling  them  how  this  and  that  individual  felt 
towards  them,  hoping  to  work  on  their  feelings  and  induce 
them  to  seek  a  dismission.  But  these  ministers  were  both 
of  them  very  prudent  and  good  men  ;  and  they  received  all 
these  interpositions  of  busybodies  with  meekness,  and 


286  A  VOICE   FEOM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

never  made  any  stir,  but  continued  on  in  their  old  way  ; 
and  are  now,  and  ever  have  been,  very  much  respected  and 
very  useful.  They  don't  believe  that  a  fluctuating  minis- 
try is  a  useful  ministry.  They  are  convinced  that  fastidi- 
ousness in  a  people  is  a  great  sin  and  has  produced  great 
evil  in  parishes ;  and,  from  principle,  they  will  not  encour- 
age it  by  any  conduct  of  theirs." 

"  They  are  right,"  the  deacon  said  ;  "  and  I  wish  there 
were  more  like  them.  I  wish  ministers  would  not  be  so 
sensitive — that  they  would  bear  and  forbear,  and  outlive 
the  little  tempests  that  will  come  up  in  parishes.  They 
might  easily  do  it  if  they  would  but  endure  the  sacrifice 
of  feeling  ;  and,  should  they,  the  effects  on  their  ministry 
would  be  most  happy." 

Much  of  this  conversation  was  had  as  Mr.  Eldridge  stood, 
with  hat  in  hand,  waiting  to  return  home  ;  and  it  was  late 
in  the  evening  before  he  could  release  himself.  At  length 
he  departed,  with  many  thanks  from  Mr.  Bertram  and  his 
deacon  for  the  very  friendly  interest  he  had  manifested 
in  their  welfare  as  pastor  and  people. 

By  the  time  he  arrived  home  all  lights  were  extin- 
guished in  the  houses  around,  and  but  one  burned  feebly  in 
his  own  abode  ;  for  it  was  almost  midnight.  To  his  great 
delight  he  ascertained  that  a  most  valued  brother  in  the 
ministry  and  his  wife,  who  lived  remotely  from  him,  were 
their  guests,  having  reached  the  place  about  two  hours 
after  he  had  left  on  his  visit  to  Mr.  Bertram.  The  next 
morning  at  the  breakfast  table  he  gave  an  account  of  this 
visit,  which  elicited  from- all  expressions  of  wonder  that 
so  much  mischief  to  a  minister  might  be  wrought  by  one 
or  two  designing,  crafty  men  in  a  parish.  Mr.  Cook,  the 
friend  and  brother  above  alluded  to,  remarked  that  this 
case  reminded  him  of  an  instance  of  ministerial  dismission 
which  was  lately  effected  in  his  neighborhood  through  the 
wily  conduct  of  a  collector  of  the  salary.  This  collector 


THE  LETTER.  287 

was  opposed  to  the  minister,  but  veiled  his  opposition  so 
artfully  that  it  was  not  manifest  till  it  had  accomplished 
its  end  and  the  minister  was  dismissed.  In  the  course  of 
his  travels  around  the  parish  he  was  in  the  habit  of  repre- 
senting the  prosperous  condition  of  the  pastor's  financial 
concerns,  and  of  remarking  that  he  probably  did  not  wish  to 
have  his  people  put  themselves  to  any  inconvenience  to  make 
out  his  salary.  Credit  was  accordingly  given  to  his  say- 
ings by  many  who  really  had  so  many  calls  for  money  in 
the  economical  support  of  their  families  that  the  stipend 
they  felt  bound  to  pay  their  minister  was  assuredly  felt  to 
be  a  tax.  Yet  they  paid  it  cheerfully  heretofore  because 
they  considered  it  a  just  debt,  and  would  have  been  will- 
ing to  have  sacrificed  more  rather  than  have  had  their 
pastor  in  the  least  straitened  ;  for  he  was  well  beloved  by 
his  people.  They  were  dilatory  in  paying  only  because 
the  collector  had  represented  that  there  was  no  want  of 
the  money,  and  not  because  of  any  unwillingness  to  main- 
tain their  minister.  After  the  collector  had  gone  over 
the  parish  and  paid  into  the  treasury  what  he  had  received, 
it  was  discovered  that  the  salary  fell  short  more  than  a 
hundred  dollars.  When  asked  for  information  on  the 
subject,  he  remarked  that  he  could  not  account  for  the  fall- 
ing off  in  any  other  way  than  by  supposing  that  the  people 
were  becoming  tired  of  their  minister.  This  declaration 
astonished  both  the  treasurer  and  parish  committee,  who 
were  unwilling  to  believe  that  such  was  the  fact.  They 
talked  much  on  the  subject,  and  each  one  remarked  that  no 
rumor  of  dissatisfaction  with  the  pastor  had  reached  them;, 
and  they  thought  that  there  must  be  some  other  reason. 
They  closely  interrogated  the  collector  as  to  his  faithful- 
ness in  calling  upon  all,  and  were  replied  to  that  he  had 
seen  every  individual  in  the  parish  and  requested  all  to  pay. 
The  committee  and  treasurer  all  knew  that  the  want  of  the 
money  would  be  seriously  felt  by  the  pastor,  as  they  knew 


288  A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

he  was  depending  upon  every  dollar  to  enable  him  to  keep 
out  of  debt,  which  was  to  him  a  very  sore  evil.  More- 
over, they  said,  if  our  pastor  should  know  that  there  was 
a  falling  off  in  the  payment  of  his  salary,  the  effect  would 
be  very  great  upon  him.  Being  all  of  them  well  off  in 
the  world  and  of  generous  dispositions,  and  having  strong 
attachment  to  their  pastor,  they  concluded  that  they 
would  say  nothing  about  the  deficiency  to  any  one,  and 
would  make  it  up  from  their  own  pockets,  which  they  did  ; 
and  the  salary  was  fully  and  promptly  paid.  The  com- 
mittee, however,  were  disturbed  ;  and  they  agreed  that 
they  would,  as  occasion  might  offer,  sound  the  people, 
and  ascertain  if  there  was  any  root  of  bitterness  spring- 
ing up  among  them  towards  their  pastor. 

In  the  course  of  a  few  months,  as  the  committee  and 
treasurer  were  in  session,  the  subject  came  up  again,  and 
each  one  reported  that  they  had  not  found  any  who  were 
seriously  opposed  to  the  minister,  and  were  happy  in  the 
conclusion  that  the  pastor  stood  high  in  the  estimation  of 
the  people.  No  suspicion  having  arisen  in  the  minds  of 
any  "that  the  collector  was  an  enemy  to  the  pastor,  he  was 
chosen  the  second  year  ;  and  when  he  finished  up  the 
work  of  this  year  it  was  found  that  a  larger  amount  was 
wanting  to  complete  the  salary  than  the  last  year  revealed. 
The  collector  appeared  grieved  at  the  fact,  as  he  said,  but 
was  led  to  believe  that  the  people  were  really  intending 
to  give  the  minister  a  gentle  hint  that  it  was  time  for  him 
to  be  seeking  another  home.  The  committee  were  greatly 
tried,  and  were  led  to  believe  that  such  might  be  the  case. 
They  were  troubled  what  to  do,  as  they  knew  the  pastor 
was  expecting  his  salary  ;  and  they  were  inclined  to  think 
that,  if  the  people  were  becoming  tired  of  him,  it  was  im- 
portant that  he  should  be  apprised  of  the  fact.  They 
concluded  that  they  would  not  make  up  the  deficiency 
then,  but  would  pay  the  pastor  what  had  been  collected ; 


THE  LETTER.  289 

which  was  done  accordingly.  As  they  supposed,  the  pas- 
tor was  sorely  disappointed  ;  but  from  none  of  the  com- 
mittee did  he  obtain  any  clew  to  the  reason.  The  pastor, 
soon  after  pay  day,  met  the  collector  and  inquired  of  him 
the  cause  for  the  deficiency.  The  collector  was  glad 
of  the  opportunity  of  informing  him,  and  told  him  that 
he  supposed  the  people  were  withholding  his  salary  to 
convey  to  him  the  information  that  his  services  were  no 
longer  wanted.  The  pastor  was  taken  altogether  by  sur- 
prise, and  was  greatly  overcome  with  sadness  and  per- 
plexity. He  had  not  dreamed  of  such  a  thing  ;  for  he  had 
discovered  no  abatement  of  affection  or  confidence  in  his 
people.  However,  being  a  man  of  nerve  and  energy,  he 
soon  rose  above  it  all,  and  for  a  few  weeks  was  absent 
from  his  people.  When  he  returned  he  brought  with  him 
a  call  to  another  pastorate.  He  speedily  announced  the 
fact  to  his  people  and  requested  a  dismission.  The  peo- 
ple were  taken  by  surprise ;  for  they  all  loved  their  pastor. 
He  was  beset  from  all  quarters  for  the  reasons  of  his  con- 
duct, which  he  frankly  gave  them,  when  their  indignation 
became  great  at  the  course  pursued  by  the  collector.  The 
deficiency  of  his  salary  was  only  a  matter  of  convenience 
to  some  of  the  people,  and  not  an  indication  of  disaffection 
or  indifference  to  the  pastor.  They  were  ready  to  make 
it  all  up,  and  more,  if  Jie  would  withdraw  his  request  and 
remain  among  them  ;  but  this  he  could  not  do  ;  for  he  had 
virtually  sought  the  call  he  had  received,  and  felt  in  honor 
bound  to  accept  it.  He  persisted  in  his  request,  and  was 
dismissed  ;  and  the  collector  had  to  leave  the  place  with 
the  curses  of  the  people  resting  upon  him. 

"  Well,"  said  Mr.  Eldridge,  "  all  this  goes  to  show  what 
one  or  two  men  in  a  parish  can  do  with  a  minister.  I  won- 
der people  don't  learn  something  by  such  facts  as  these." 

"  They  ought  to  learn  ;  but  they  are  rather  slow  at  im- 
provement, after  all,"  Mr.  Ilartwell  observed.  "  I  rather 


290          A  VOICE  FEOM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

think,  however,  the  people  of  whom  I  have  just  spoken 
will  be  pretty  careful  who  they  put  in  as  collector 
again." 

"  A  parish  ought  to  be  careful  about  this,"  Mr.  Eldridge 
said  ;  "  for  a  minister's  good  is  in  the  collector's  hands. 
If  he  is  a  friend  to  the  pastor  and  a  man  of  energy,  he 
can  put  up  the  people  to  promptness  and  liberality  in  the 
payment  of  the  salary  ;  and  no  man  ought  to  be  a  col- 
lector who  is  not  the  minister's  friend,  and  a  wise  and  pru- 
dent man  too  ;  for  when  he  goes  round  after  the  salary  he 
must  of  necessity  hear  the  people  talk.  They  will  talk  at 
such  times,  and  say  things  which  they  don't  mean  often  ; 
and  the  collector  ought  to  be  such  a  man  as  will  give  a 
right  turn  to  conversation  and  maintain  the  pastor's  side." 

"  Yes  ;  that  is  true,"  Mr.  Hartwell  observed.  '*  I  know 
when  you  feel  in  the  pockets  of  people  you  touch  them  ; 
and  a  collector  has  it  in  his  power  to  do  a  minister  vast 
good  or  much  injury  at  these  times.  He  can  often  fan  a 
flame  or  put  it  out." 


CHAPTER    XXV. 

THE   DIFFEKENCE 

IT  is  well  to  contemplate  the  clerical  profession  in  con- 
trast  with  the  other  learned  professions,  together  with 
our  merchants,  farmers,  mechanics,  railroad  and  manufac- 
turing agents,  and  even  with  some  of  our  common  day 
operatives.  The  contrast  may  disclose  a  spirit,  not  by  all 
readily  accorded  to  them,  which  is  the  ruling,  absorbing 
influence  over  those  who  enter  the  ministry,  both  in  elect- 
ing the  profession  and  in  continuing  in  it.  This  contrast 
may  show  how  self  is  set  aside,  and  what  are  the  sacrifices 
made  by  our  clergy  of  the  wealth,  and  honors,  and  ease  of 
the  present  world. 

A  social  interview  between  Mr.  Eldridge  and  one  of  his 
early  acquaintance  who  visited  him  may  present  this  con- 
trast. The  two  were  natives  of  the  same  town,  were 
neighbors,  schoolfellows,  and  had  contracted  for  each 
other,  when  children,  a  friendship  which  was  not  forgotten 
when  they  were  men.  Though  many  years  had  rolled  by 
since  their. last  interview,  and  though  their  spheres  of 
action  were  very  dissimilar,  yet  both  were  pleased  at  meet- 
ing again,  and  were  made  happy  in  a  retrospection  of 
former  scenes  and  pursuits  and  in  a  remembrance  of  old 
acquaintances  and  friends.  Though  Mr.  Brayton  was  a 
blacksmith  and  Mr.  Eldridge  a  clergyman  and  scholar,  yet 
they  met  as  equals,  and  together  talked  and  laughed  about 

(291) 


292  A  VOICE   FROM  THE   PARSONAGE. 

other  days  with  great  satisfaction.  The  former  had  a 
strong  mind,  which  had  been  kept  informed  of  all  the  gen- 
eral subjects  of  the  day ;  and  it  was  with  much  pleasure 
that  the  latter  often  discovered  in  his  friend  rather  unusual 
acquaintance  with  men  and  things,  which  denoted  that  the 
anvil  had  been  left  at  times  for  the  library,  and  that  the 
head  must  have  labored  hard  as  well  as  the  hands.  It 
came  out  in  the  course  of  the  visit  that  Mr.  Brayton  had 
by  his  own  exertions  acquired  a  handsome  property  and 
that  he  was  living  in  rather  princely  style.  As  he  was 
incidentally  speaking  of  his  affairs,  thereby  disclosing  the 
above  fact,  Mr.  Eldridge  unconsciously  remarked,  — 

"  How  differently  circumstanced  we  arc,  friend  Brayton  ! 
You  probably  are  worth  fifty  thousand  dollars,  and  I  have 
not  three  thousand.  It  cost  me  between  one  and  two  thou- 
sand dollars  to  start  in  my  profession,  and  you  probably  but 
three  or  four  hundred.  I  have  worked  hard  all  my  days 
and  have  just  obtained  my  bread,  and  you  have  acquired  a 
fortune." 

"You  know,"  Mr.  Brayton  observed,  "your  profession 
is  not  a  moneymaking  concern.  The  men  who  enter  the 
ministry,  I  suppose,  do  not  care  to  be  rich." 

"  Well,  but  why  should  they  not  be  as  well  paid  for 
their  labors  as  other  men  are?"  Mr.  Eldridge  inquired. 

"They  ought  to  be,  I  confess,"  said  Mr.  Brayton  ;  "yet, 
somehow  or  other,  people  think,  if  they  can  only  keep  life 
in  a  minister  and  his  family,  that  is  all  they  ought  to  do." 

"  I  know  this  is  apt  to  be  the  feeling  of  a  parish.  The 
expenses  of  a  minister's  family  are  graduated  on  the  most 
economical  scale,  and  then  the  salary  is  voted  him  accord- 
ingly. Well,  so  it  is  ;  and  yet,  for  all  that,  I  would  not 
give  up  my  profession,"  Mr.  Eldridge  remarked.  "  There 
is  a  higher  consideration  than  money  or  any  thing  earthly, 
I  hope,  which  moved  me  to  enter  the  ministry  or  to  con- 
.tinue  in  it. 


THE   DIFFERENCE.  293 

"  How  does  the  Bragg  family  make  out  ?  "  Mr.  Eldridge 
inquired.  "I  have  hardly  heard  from  them  since  we  were 
at  school." 

Mr.  Brayton  remarked  that  there  were  "  but  two  of  the 
boys  living,  three  having  died  before  becoming  of  age. 
One  is  a  carpenter  and  the  other  is  a  farmer  ;  and  both  are 
very  likely  men,  and  are  wealthy  too." 

"  How  is  that  George  Hale  ?  Is  he  living  ?  "  Mr.  Eldridge 
asked. 

"0,  yes,"  Mr.  Brayton  replied,  "and  is  a  flourishing 
merchant  in  Buffalo.  They  say  he  is  worth  two  hundred 
thousand  dollars.  We  did  not  think  he  was  very  promis- 
ing when  we  went  to  school  together,  did  we?" 

"  He  was  about  the  dullest  scholar  I  ever  knew,"  Mr. 
Eldridge  said.  "  You  know  the  teachers  lost  all  their  pa- 
tience with  him.  Well,  I  am  astonished  if  he  has  made 
out  so  well." 

After  inquiring  in  this  manner  after  his  early  friends, 
playmates,  and  schoolfellows,  and  having  a  favorable 
account  of  most  of  them  who  survived  to  manhood,  Mr. 
Eldridge  again  alluded  to  the  great  difference  there  was 
between  his  own  temporal  condition  and  theirs,  and  yet  it 
was  done  in  such  a  manner  as  to  leave  no  impression  on 
the  mind  of  Mr.  Brayton  that  he  repined  at  his  lot  or 
regretted  that  he  had  entered  the  ministry. 

"  Well,  Mr.  Eldridge,"  said  Mr.  Brayton,  "  we  have  been 
over  the  ground  pretty  well  with  our  early  friends.  I 
should  like  to  know  how  your  college  friends  have  turned 
out.  I  have  some  acquaintance  with  college  matters,  you 
know,  as  my  oldest  son  has  been  through,  and  he  has  had 
much  to  say  about  things  there." 

"  0.  yes,"  said  Mr.  Eldridge  ;  "  I  should  like  to  compare 
their  history  now,  seeing  we  are  on  the  subject."  So,  taking 
the  triennial  catalogue,  he  turned  to  the  years  of  his  con- 
nection with  college,  and  went  over  the  names  of  both  W« 
25* 


294  A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PAESONAGE. 

own  classmates  and  of  the  members  of  the  other  classes 
who  were  with  him  there,  and  remarked  on  the  history  of 
each  one,  so  far  as  he  knew,  of  his  own  class.  The  one 
who  had  the  highest  honor  at  graduation  was  a  respect- 
able country  minister.  The  one  who  had  the  second 
honor  was  himself ;  the  one  who  had  the  third  was  dead. 
He  found  one  classmate  a  judge  of  the  supreme  court  of 
his  native  state,  and  remarked,  "He  is  rich  as  a  Jew." 
He  found  two  who  had  been  in  Congress,  and  he  believed 
were  wealthy.  He  found  seven  who  were  ministers  now 
living  with  a  bare  competency  as  a  salary  ;  five  who  were 
ministers  had  deceased.  He  found  several  were  phy- 
sicians and  merchants,  and  most  of  them  were  well  off  in 
the  world. 

"  It  seems  all  but  the  ministers  have  got  along  well," 
Mr.  Brayton  remarked. 

"  Yes,  it  does,"  Mr.  Eldridge  replied.  "  There  is  San- 
ders, the  fag  end  of  our  class  ;  I  am  told  that  he  is  a  very 
•wealthy  man  at  the  west.  He  studied  law,  and  for  a 
while  had  an  office  ;  but  he  gave  up  his  profession  and  went 
to  speculating  in  lands,  by  which  course  he  has  amassed  a 
large  fortune." 

"  If  you  had  turned  your  attention  to  law  rather  than 
theology,  I  suppose  you  would  have  been  as  wealthy  as  any 
of  your  old  friends  by  this  time,"  Mr.  Brayton  remarked. 

"  Very  likely,"  Mr.  Eldridge  replied  ;  "  but,  had  I  been 
assured  of  this,  I  presume  it  would  have  made  no  difference 
in  my  course.  I  felt  called  on  to  devote  myself  to  the 
ministry,  and  I  have  no  reason  now  to  regret  my  course." 
'  "  You  expect  your  reward  in  another  world,  I  presume," 
Mr.  Brayton  observed. 

"  Of  course  I  hope  to  be  approved  at  last  as  a  servant 
of  my  Savior,  though  I  feel  that  I  have  been  very  unfaith- 
ful. If  I  should  reach  heaven  and  find  that  I  had  been 
the  means  of  turning  some  Of  my  fellow-beings  to  the  Lamb 


THE  DIFFERENCE.  295 

of  God  who  taketh  away  sin,  I  think  the  reward  will  be 
great  for  all  that  I  have  suffered  here  in  my  ministry." 

"  Well,  I  acknowledge  that  it  would  ;  but  then  I  do  not 
see  why  ministers  in  our  country,  where  the  people  are  all 
able  to  do  well  by  them,  are  not  more  considered,  and 
have  not  a  compensation  more  like  that  which  lawyers  and 
physicians  obtain,"  Mr.  Bray  ton  said.  "  The  great  mass  of 
the  people  acknowledge  the  ministry  to  be  more  important 
to  their  temporal  welfare  than  the  legal  or  the  medical 
profession  and  they  feel  that  to  their  eternal  interest  the 
ministry  is  indispensable.  I  should  think,  therefore,  they 
would  better  provide  for  the  ministers  than  they  do.  and 
not  have  such  a  wide  difference  in  their  temporal  circum- 
stances from  those  who  are  around  them.  I  am  sure  min- 
isters would  do  good  with  money,  and  I  feel  that  they 
ought  to  have  it." 

"  I  agree  with  you,  "  Mr.  Eldridge  remarked,  "  that  a 
people  should  so  provide  for  their  minister  as  to  enable 
him  to  have  money  at  command  ;  for  by  so  doing  he  could 
be  more  useful  in  many  ways.  He  would  be  free  from 
anxiety  which  now  often  cripples  him ;  and  he  would  be 
enabled  to  set  a  good  example  to  others  in  the  use  of 
money.  Furthermore,  the  great  difference  of  which  we 
have  been  speaking  between  a  minister's  worldly  circum- 
stances and  others  would  be  done  away,  and  doubtless 
many  would  enter  the  ministry  who  now  turn  from  it  be- 
cause it  is  regarded  as  so  poorly  provided  for,  and  as  the 
sure  way  for  great  anxiety,  sacrifice,  and  suffering.  I  really 
wish  our  churches  might  be  induced  to  look  into  the  sub- 
ject, and  then  I  feel  that  there  might  be  a  change  for  the 
better.  I  know  of  no  reason  why  a  minister  of  a  parish 
should  not  receive  as  much  from  the  people  as  a  lawyer  or 
physician.  Yet  they  do  not  ordinarily  receive  half  as 
much." 


CHAPTER    XXYI. 

THE  PASTOR  CALLED  TO  A  PROFESSORSHIP. 

SEVERAL  times  during  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Eldridge 
there  were  extended  to  him  semi-official  invitations  to 
leave  the  people  of  his  charge  and  occupy  pulpits  which 
the  fashion  of  this  world  would  characterize  as  more  pop- 
ular and  eligible  than  his  own.  But  to  all  such  soundings 
on  the  part  of  parish  committees  and  others  he  gave  no 
encouragement,  as  his  views  ever  had  been  partial  to  a 
settled  and  permanent  ministry,  and  strongly  opposed  to  a 
fluctuating  one.  He  was  peculiarly  sensitive  on  this  sub- 
ject, having  seen  the  deplorabk  consequences,  both  to  minis- 
ters and  churches,  that  follow  dismissions  for  reasons 
other  than  those  which  were  not  insurmountable,  and 
most  obviously  indicative  that  it  was  the  will  of  the 
great  Head  of  the  church  that  such  dismissions  should 
take  place.  Whenever  he  was  on  councils  for  the  settle- 
ment of  pastors  he  would  oppose  with  all  his  energy  the 
introduction  of  the  seeds  of  dissolution  of  the  relation  he 
was  invited  to  aid  in  consummating,  as  he  frequently 
found  them  in  the  "  three  or  six  months'  notice  "  of  either 
party  which  might  desire  a  change.  So  successful  was  he 
in  his  opposition  to  these  ways  of  settlement  that  in  more 
than  one  instance  did  the  people  who  had  inserted  such  a 
clause  in  the^r  pastor's  call  pledge  themselves  before  the 
council  that  it  should  be  rescinded,  and  no  conditions 

(290) 


THE  PASTOR  CALLED   TO  A  PROFESSORSHIP.  297 

whatever  attach  to  the  settlement  other  than  those  fixed 
by  law  and  sanctioned  by  ecclesiastical  usage. 

Although  Mr.  Eldridge  might  have  left  for  a  more  ex- 
tensive charge,  and  where  the  emoluments  of  his  office 
would  have  been  much  enlarged,  yet  his  people  were  kept 
in  ignorance  of  these  matters.  He  did  not  care  to  have 
them  disturbed  nor  his  own  time  and  feelings  engrossed 
with  discussions  in  relation  to  such  considerations.  As 
the  overtures  to  him  from  abroad  were  privately  tendered, 
so  his  decisions  were  rendered  in  silence  ;  and  thus  all 
tumult  and  inquisitiveness  were  saved. 

After  he  had  been  settled  seventeen  years  he  received 
an  invitation  to  a  vacant  professorship  in  one  of  our  theo- 
logical institutions.  So  well  adapted  was  he  to  this  office, 
and  so  much  more  useful  might  he  be  in  it,  that  it  was 
taken  for  granted  that  he  would  see  as  others  saw  and  ac- 
cept the  situation.  The  announcement  of  the  appointment 
was  made  in  the  papers  ;  so  that  the  people  of  his  parish 
heard  of  it  almost  as  soon  as  the  mail  which  brought  the 
invitation  to  Mr.  Eldridge  arrived  in  town.  Of  course 
there  was  commotion  in  all  parts  of  the  parish,  and  every 
little  circle  might  be  heard  discussing  the  probabilities  of 
their  pastor's  leaving,  and  variously  expressing  their  feel- 
ings in  relation  to  the  call. 

So  far  as  public  rumor  had  it,  Mr.  Eldridge  stood  at  this 
period  of  his  ministry  as  high  among  his  people  as  at  any 
former  time.  If  animosity  or  dislike  existed  in  any  breast 
towards  him,  it  lay  there  smothered  and  concealed.  It 
was  not  known  that  any  desired  a  change  of  ministry ; 
and,  from  the  manner  in  which  the  pastor's  recent  invita- 
tion to  a  professorship  was  received,  it  might  have  been 
inferred  that  all  the  people  were  satisfied  with  him  still 
and  anxious  to  retain  him  in  their  service. 

A  large  party  was  assembled  at  the  house  of  Doctor 
Howard  soon  after  this  appointment,  and  it  was  made 
the  subject  of  very  free  discussion  there. 


298  A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

"  Arc  we  to  lose  our  pastor  ?  "  Mrs.  Jones  inquired  of 
Mrs.  Clay. 

"I  hope  not,  most  assuredly,"  was  the  reply.  "I  hope 
and  trust  Mr.  Eldridge  will  not  think  of  leaving  us.  Do 
you  feel  as  though  he  would,  Mrs.  Jones  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know,"  she  replied.  ,  "  I  hope  he  will  not ;  but 
I  am  afraid  he  will.  The  situation  to  which  he  is  invited 
would  afford  him  such  a  large  field  of  usefulness,  and 
would  enable  him  to  be  so  entirely  devoted  to  study,  that 
I  have  thought  he  might  be  disposed  to  leave  here  for  the 
sake  of  being  situated  more  to  his  mind." 

"  How  can  you  think  so?  "  Mrs.  Clay  asked,  in  an  ex- 
cited manner.  "  I  have  not  thought  it  possible  that  Mr. 
Eldridge  could  leave  us." 

"  Have  you  heard  that  he  was  going  to  leave  us  ?  "  Mrs. 
Parker  inquired. 

"  0,  no,  I  have  not,"  Mrs.  Clay  said  ;  "  I  have  hardly 
heard  a  word  on  the  subject  till  I  came  here  this  evening. 
Mrs.  Jones  just  said  that  she  thought  there  were  strong 
inducements  in  the  situation  to  which  Mr.  Eldridge  had 
been  invited  to  persuade  him  to  accept  his  appointment." 

"  0,  I  thought  I  heard  Mrs.  Jones  say  that  he  would 
leave  ;  and  I  thought  I  would  draw  up  to  you  and  inquire 
more  particularly  about  it." 

"  No  ;  I  did  not  say  that  he  would  leave,  but  that  I 
feared  he  might,"  Mrs.  Jones  observed. 

"I  hope  he  will  not,"  Mrs.  Parker  remarked.  "It 
would  be  a  great  misfortune  to  us  were  he  to  do  so.  I 
can't  think  he  would  be  any  more  pleasantly  situated  any 
where  than  in  his  present  place.  The  people  are  all  ar- 
dently attached  to  him,  and  he  understands  them  very 
well,  and  can  do  more  good  here,  I  am  persuaded,  than 
any  one  else." 

"  That  is  the  way  I  feel,"  said  Mrs.  Clay.  "  You  know 
it  takes  time  to  become  thoroughly  acquainted  with  a 


TEE  PASTOR   CALLED   TO   A  PROFESSORSHIP.  29fr 

people  ;  and  now,  as  Mr.  Eldridge  has  been  here  so  long 
and  knows  all  about  us,  he  is  better  qualified  to  be  useful 
to  all  classes  than  any  other  minister  could  be.  The 
people,  you  know,  love  and  respect  him  ;  and  when  a 
minister  has  gained  the  confidence  of  a  people  he  can 
do  great  good  to  them." 

"  That  is  true,"  Mrs.  Jones  said  ;  "  and  I  hope  our  pas- 
tor will  feel  so,  and  remain  with  us." 

"  Of  it  would  not  be  right  for  Mr.  Eldridge  to  go  away 
after  having  been  here  so  long,"  Mrs.  Parker  said  ;  "  and 
I  don't  believe  he  will  go.  He  is  opposed  to  ministers' 
leaving  their  people,  you  know." 

"  Yes,"  said  Mrs.  Jones,  "  he  has  said  a  great  deal  about 
such  practices,  I  know  ;  but  then  there  may  be  sufficient 
reasons  for  a  pastor's  being  dismissed." 

Mrs.  Clay,  finding  Mrs.  Jones  and  Mrs.  Parker  in  ani- 
mated discussion  of  the  question,  rose  and  took  a  vacant 
seat  by  the  side  of  Mrs.  Smith,  who  was  very  grateful  for 
having  an  opportunity  to  converse  with  her  upon  the  now 
absorbing  subject. 

"  Mr.  Eldridge  won't  leave  us,  will  he,  Mrs.  Clay  ?  " 

"I  cannot  think  he  will,"  Mrs.  Clay  replied.  "I  have 
not  heard  any  thing  said  about  it  before  I  came  here.  In- 
deed, I  have  not  seen  any  one  since  the  news  came  till 
this  afternoon  ;  but  I  don't  believe  Mr.  Eldridge  will  go 
away." 

"  That  is  right,"  Mrs.  Smith  said.  "I  feel  just  as  you 
do.  I  have  hardly  thought  of  any  thing  else  since  I  heard 
of  his  appointment.  It  would  kill  me  if  he  should  go.  I 
tell  my  husband  the  parish  would  be  ruined  if  Mr.  El- 
dridge should  be  dismissed." 

"  Does  the  deacon  think  there  is  any  probability  of  Mr. 
Eldridge's  accepting  the  offer?  "  Mrs.  Clay  asked. 

"  No  ;  he  does  not.  He  says  he  cannot  leave  us  ;  tha 
people  wpuld  not  submit  to  it." 


300  A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

"  Has  your  husband  beard  much  said  about  it  ?  "  Mrs. 
Clay  inquired. 

"  0,  yes  ;  almost  every  one  who  comes  to  the  mill  talks 
to  him  about  it.  He  was  up  in  town  here  yesterday,  and 
he  said  he  did  not  know  as  he  should  be  able  to  get  home 
and  do  his  business,  there  were  so  many  stopping  him  to 
talk  with  him  about  our  pastor." 

"  Do  you  know  how  Colonel  Presbury  feels  on  the  sub- 
iect?"  Mrs.  Clay  asked. 

"  No,  I  do  not.  Mr.  Smith  said  that  he  saw  him  yester- 
day with  several  others,  but  he  did  not  know  as  he  opened 
his  mouth  on  the  subject." 

"  I  did  not  know  but  that  he  might  be  willing  to  have 
him  go,"  Mrs.  Clay  said.  "  You  know  he  felt  pretty  badly 
about  being  taxed  to  pay  the  parish  debt  some  years  ago, 
and  I  have  thought  he  has  felt  differently  towards  Mr.  El- 
dridge  ever  since ;  for,  you  know,  he  was  the  means  of 
having  that  old  debt  paid." 

"  I  know  he  was,"  Mrs.  Smith  said  ;  "  and  it  was  a  capi- 
tal thing  for  the  parish  too.  My  husband  every  now  and 
then  speaks  of  it,  and  says  Mr.  Eldridge  did  a  good  thing 
when  he  preached  that  debt  sermon.  _I  know  Colonel 
Presbury  felt  rather  sour  about  being  taxed  ;  but,  then,  ho 
said  the  debt  ought  to  be  paid." 

"  Yes,  I  know  he  said  so  ;  but,  then,  he  was  for  selling 
the  parish  lands,  and  paying  it  with  the  proceeds,"  Mrs. 
Clay  said ;  "  and  because  the  lands  were  not  sold  and  a 
tax  was  made  he  did  not  like  it  at  all,  and  he  said  hard 
things  about  Mr.  Eldridge." 

"  Ah,  I  never  heard  of  that,"  Mrs.  Smith  said.  "  If  I 
did  I  have  forgotten  it,  it  is  so  long  since  the  debt  was 
paid.  Colonel  Presbury  always  speaks  well  of  Mr.  El- 
dridge when  I  see  him." 

"  0,  yes,  I  know  he  docs,"  Mrs.  Clay  said  ;  "  but,  then, 
Jie  don't  forget  being  taxed  so  roundly.'11 


THE  PASTOR  CALLED  TO  A  PROFESSORSHIP.     301 

"  0,  well,"  Mrs.  Smith  remarked,  "  he  has  not  laid  up 
any  thing  against  our  minister,  I  dare  say  ;  he  has  too 
much  good  sense  for  that,  I  know." 

Mrs.  Howard  passing  along,  Mrs.  Clay  remarked,  — 

"I  am  sorry  not  to  see  your  father  here  to-night,  Fran- 
ces. I  was  expecting  to  have  a  good  chat  with  him." 

"  "We  urged  him  to  come  out,"  Mrs.  Howard  said  ;  "but 
he  don't  care  about  being  in  such  a  crowd  as  we  have  here. 
He  has  not  been  out  much  in  company  since  mother  died. 
He  says  he  prefers  being  at  home." 

"  He  has  no  fears  that  Mr.  Eldridge  will  go  away,  I 
presume  ?  " 

"  0,  no  ;  he  was  in  here  this  morning,  and  said  that  he 
did  not  believe  Mr.  Eldridge  had  the  most  distant  thought 
of  leaving." 

"  Has  your  father  had  any  conversation  with  him  on  the 
subject  ?  "  Mrs.  Clay  inquired. 

"  No.  I  think  he  said  he  had  not  exchanged  a  word 
with  Mr.  Eldridge  on  the  subject." 

"  Well,  he  would  have  said  something  to  him  about  it  if 
he  had  any  idea  of  leaving,  I  know,"  Mrs.  Smith  said  ; 
"for  Mr.  Eldridge  always  consults  the  squire,  you  know,  on 
every  subject ;  don't  he,  Mrs.  Clay  ?  " 

"  I  have  thought  so,"  Mrs.  Clay  replied  ;  "  but  perhaps 
he  may  yet." 

"What  does  your  husband  say  about  Mr.  Eldridge's 
leaving?"  Mrs.  Smith  inquired.  "He  is  about  so  much 
he  would  be  likely  to  hear  what  is  said  in  the  parish!" 

"He  says  he  shall  be  glad  when  the  matter  is  settled, 
for  every  one  is  asking  him  so  many  questions  about  it," 
Mrs.  Howard  remarked. 

"  He  don't  find  any  who  wish  to  have  him  go,  does  he  ?  " 
said  Mrs.  Smith. 

"  O,  I  do  not  know  as  he  does,"  Mrs.  Howard  replied  ; 
"  but  perhaps  there  are  some  for  all  that.  They  would 
2*6 


302         A  VOICE  PEOM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

not  dare  to  say  so  to  him,  you  know,  if  they  were  opposed 
to  Mr.  Eldridge." 

"No,"  said  Mrs.  Clay.  "People  would  be  very  careful 
not  to  let  any  of  your  family  know  if  they  disliked  our 
pastor.  Indeed,  it  would  not  be  very  politic  for  such  to 
let  their  feelings  be  kno'wn  to  any  one,  Mr.  Eldridge  has 
so  many  friends." 

"  I  see,  Mrs.  Clay,"  Mrs.  Smith  said,  "  you  are  inclined 
to  believe  that  there  may  be  some  who  would  be  glad  to 
have  Mr.  Eldridge  leave." 

"  0,  I  do  not  know  how  you  could  make  any  such  infer- 
ence," said  Mrs.  Clay. 

"  You  seem  to  think  Colonel  Presbury  don't  feel  as  ho 
formerly  did,  do  you  not  ?  " 

"  0, 1  think,  as  I  said,  that  he  was  displeased  about  the 
old  parish  debt,  and  I  think  he  has  never  got  over  it ; 
and  if  he  thought  it  would  answer,  and  Jie  could  succeed,  he 
would  exert  himself  to  have  Mr.  Eldridge  go  away." 

"  I  never  heard  any  one  say  before  that  there  was  a 
single  individual  in  the  parish  of  any  consequence  who 
would  like  a  new  minister,"  Mrs.  Smith  said,  with  great 
warmth.  "I  don't  believe  Colonel  Presbury  does.  If  he 
could  be  the  means  of  having  Mr.  Eldridge  dismissed,  I 
do  not  think  he  would  use  his  influence  for  it.'; 

"  I  hope  he  would  not ;  but  perhaps  time  may  sAow,"  said 
Mrs.  Clay.  "  Mr.  Clay  has  said  for  years  that  Colonel 
Presbury  never  would  forgive  our  pastor  for  that  debt  ser- 
mon, and  that  he  would  one  day  make  it  the  occasion  of 
trouble." 

"I  am  astonished,"  Mrs.  Smith  said.  "  If  I  thought  the 
colonel  felt  so  towards  Mr.  Eldridge  I  should  cross  him 
out  of  my  books.  I  cannot  believe  that  he  does." 

"  0,  well,  I  hope  he  does  not,"  said  Mrs.  Clay.  "  I 
would  not  say  any  thing  about  it  to  any  one.  I  should 
not  have  spoken  to  you  as  I  have  in  relation  to  it  had  I 


THE  PASTOR  CALLED   TO  A   PROFESSORSHIP.  303 

not  supposed  you  would  keep  it  a  secret.  I  have  never 
spoken  of  it  before  only  to  Mr.  Howard's  mother.  She 
felt  just  as  I  do,  and  I  have  no  doubt  the  squire  does  like- 
wise ;  Mrs.  Davidson  said  that  he  did.  Colonel  Presbury 
is  a  man  of  very  strong  prejudices,  Mrs.  Davidson  used  to 
say.  He  never  forgets." 

"  If  he  feels  as  you  fear  that  he  does,  how  could  he  have 
acted  as  he  has?"  Mrs.  Smith, inquired.  "We  should 
have  heard  from  his  opposition  before  this.  Certainly  my 
husband  would  have  heard  of  it." 

"  Colonel  Presbury  is  a  very  cool,  cunning  man"  Mrs. 
Clay  said.  "  He  knows  when  to  act  and  when  to  be  still. 
He  is  only  waiting  for  an  occasion  to  act  surely.  When 
an  occasion  offers,  and  if  he  can  get  a  few  to  side  with 
him,  you  will  find  that  he  will  make  difficulty  here." 

"  O,  well,  he  could  get  a  few  almost  any  time  to  side 
with  him,  as  you  say,"  Mrs.  Smith  remarked.  "  There  are 
Mr.  Otis,  and  Mr.  Scott,  and  Mr.  Andrews,  who  are  ever 
ready  to  make  parish  trouble,  you  know." 

"  Ah,  but  such  characters  Colonel  Presbury  don't  care 
to  walk  with  alone,"  said  Mrs.  Clay.  "  If  he  had  your 
husband  and  one  or  two  like  him,  I  guess  he  would  be 
moving  as  I  have  said.  You  know  a  deacon  can  do  much 
when  opposed  to  a  minister." 

"If  he  can.get  my  husband  to  join  him  in  opposing  Mr. 
Eldridge,  there  will  be  something  new  under  the  sun.  If 
he  waits  for  him,  Mr.  Eldridge  will  live  and  die  here. 
My  husband  would  no  more  help  dismiss  Mr.  Eldridge  than 
he  would  try  to  get  a  new  wife" 

"No,  I  dare  say  he  would  not,"  Mrs.  Clay  said.  "I  did 
not  mean  to  insinuate  that  he  would,  but  only  to  say  that 
Colonel  Presbury  would  not  do  any  thing  unless  he  had 
some  persons  of  influence  and  standing  to  back  him  up." 

About  a  week  from  this  period  there  was  a  town  meet- 
ing for  the  choice  of  governor  and  other  state  and  county 


304         A  VOICE  FROM  THE  -PARSONAGE. 

officers,  and  the  opportunity  was  improved  in  circles  by 
various  individuals  in  conversing  on  the  appointment  of 
Mr.  Eldridge.  At  one  time  Deacon  Smith,  Squire  David- 
son, Doctor  Howard,  Colonel  Presbury,  and  one  or  two 
others  were  together  talking  over  the  matter." 

"  I  should  think,"  said  Deacon  Smith,  "  that  if  Mr.  El- 
dridge intended  to  leave  us  he  would  say  something  about 
it  by  this  time  ;  shouldn't  you,  squire  ?  " 

"  What  do  you  mean,  deacon  ?  "  said  the  squire.  "  Say 
something  from  the  pulpit?" 

"  Yes ;  that  is  the  common  way,  I  believe,  for  ministers 
to  do  when  they  are  thinking  of  leaving  their  people,  is 
it  not?" 

"  0,  if  he  had  determined  to  leave  he  would  have  an- 
nounced such  determination  before  this,  I  dare  say,"  the 
squire  remarked. 

"Has  he  said  any  thing  to  you  about  it,  squire?" 
Colonel  Presbury  asked. 

"Nothing,"  the  squire  said.  "He  has  not  been  at  home 
much  of  late,  and  I  have  not  seen  him  but  once  or  twice 
since  the  news  came.  Besides,  I  do  not  think  he  would 
say  any  thing  to  me  on  the  subject,  nor,  for  that  matter,  to 
any  one  in  the  parish." 

"No,  I  presume  not,"  the  deacon  said.  "He  is  not 
inclined  to  converse-much  on  his  own  matters  with  any  of 
his  people." 

"  No,  I  know  he  is  not,"  Colonel  Presbury  said  ;  "  but  I 
thought  it  very  probable  he  might  have  conversed  with 
the  squire  about  it.  Well,  squire,  do  you  think  he  will 
accept  ?  " 

"  I  have  thought  not,  judging  from  what  I  know  of  his 
feelings  in  relation  to  pastors  leaving  their  people.  I 
think  he  will  decide  to  remain  with  us.  I  do  not  believe 
it  is  his  duty  to  go  any  where  else  -  I  should  very  much 
regret  it  if  he  should  leave  us." 


THE  PASTOR    CALLED  TO   A   PROFESSORSHIP.  305 

"  I  know,"  said  the  colonel,  "  he  has  a  pretty  strong 
hold  here ;  but,  then,  I  have  thought  he  would  go.  The 
situation  of  a  professor,  you  know,  would  suit  his  habits 
very  well,  and  he  would  enjoy  himself  more  where  he 
could  have  nothing  to  do  but  study  than  he  can  here 
with  so  many  interruptions.  Besides,  the  salary  he  is 
offered  is  much  more  than  what  we  give  him ;  and  that  is 
something,  you  know." 

"  He  has  a  good  salary  here.  I  have  never  heard  him 
complain,"  the  squire  said  ;  "  and  I  do  not  think  he  would 
be  influenced  by  money  matters  to  leave  us." 

" No  ;  not  he"  the  deacon  said  ;  " nor  by  any  other  mat- 
ters. I  believe  he  will  live  and  die  among  us.  I  hope  so; 
for  we  can  never  get  a  minister  who  will  be  so  generally 
useful  here  as  Mr.  Eldridge  is.  It  would  be  a  dark  day  for 
our  parish  if  he  should  leave." 

"  0, 1  don't  know  about  that,"  the  colonel  said.  "  Mr. 
Eldridge  is  a  very  good  man  ;  but  it  would  be  strange  if 
there  are  not  others  as  good." 

"  Would  you  have  him  go,  colonel  ?"    the  deacon  asked. 

"  No,  not  that  I  know  of ;  but  I  would  accept  a  good  offer 
if  I  were  in  his  place.  He  is  growing  old,  you  know  ;  and 
perhaps  in  a  few  years  some  of  the  people  might  wish  for 
a  younger  man.  If  he  takes  this  professorship,  he  will  be 
sure  of  a  good,  berth  as  long  as  he  lives." 

"  How  old  is  he  ?"  the  squire  inquired  with  energy. 

"  0,  he  is  rising  of  fifty,  I  suppose,"  the  colonel  said. 

"  Not  fifty  yet  ?"  the  squire  remarked.  "He  is  just  in 
his  prime.  If  he  were  as  old  as  you  and  I,  colonel,  there 
would  be  some  sense  in  talking  about  his  being  old,  but 
not  now.  Mr.  Eldridge  will  be  more  useful  here  for 
twenty-five  years  to  come,  if  he  lives  so  long,  than  he  ever 
has  been." 

"  Well,  I  do  not  know  but  he  will,"  the  colonel  said. 
"  He  preaches  as  well  now  as  he  ever  did,  I  think." 
26* 


306         A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

"  He  preaches  better  and  better  every  year,"  said  the 
squire  ;  "  don't  you  .think  so,  deacon  ?  "  • 

"  0,  yes ;  that  is  a  fact,"  the  deacon  said.  "  His  age 
won't  hurt  him  these  thirty  years  yet." 

"  Do  you  think,  colonel,  there  are  any  of  the  people  here 
who  would  have  Mr.  Eldridge  go  away  ?  "  the  deacon  asked. 

"  Why,  no  ;  not  that  I  know  of.  He  is  liked  very  well, 
I  believe,  by  most  people." 

Seeing  some  one  pass  whom  he  wished  to  notice,  the 
colonel  left  the  circle,  when  the  squire  remarked,  — 

"  I  rather  think  Colonel  Presbury  would  have  720  objec- 
tions to  our  pastor's  leaving." 

"  His  conversation  looked  that  way  certainly,"  said  the 
deacon  ;  "  but  he  would  not  dare  to  say  outright  that  he 
wished  Mr.  Eldridge  to  leave." 

"  I  was  astonished,"  Doctor  Howard  said,  "  to  hear  him 
talk  so  coolly  on  the  subject.  I  thought  he  would  have 
no  objections  to  his  leaving  from  his  manner  of  speaking." 

"  I  never  heard  him  express  himself  so  before  in  regard  to 
Mr.  Eldridge,  I  confess,"  the  deacon  said.  "  Something 
or  other  he  don't  like  about  him,  that  is  a  fact." 

"  You  know,"  the  squire  said,  "  he  talked  very  hard  some 
years  since  when  Mr.  Eldridge  took  up  the  matter  of 
the  old  parish  debt.  He  did  not  like  it  at  all  to  be  taxed 
for  its  payment.  I  don't  know  of  any  thing  else  that  has 
happened  but  that  to  disturb  the  colonel.  At  any  rate,  I 
never  have  heard  of  any  thing  else." 

"  That  is  an  old  affair,"  the  deacon  said.  "  That  is 
dead  and  buried  long  ago.  The  colonel  has  forgotten  all 
about  it.  I  don't  believe  that  is  what  disturbs  him  now, 
if  any  thing  does." 

"  I  don't  know  about  that,"  the  squire  said.  "  My  good 
wife  used  to  say, '  The  colonel  never  forgets  ;  he  is  a  man  of 
strong  feelings.'  She  used  to  say  that  the  colonel  would  one 
day  mike  trouble  out  of  that  debt  sermon" 


THE  PASTOR   CALLED  TO   A  PROFESSORSHIP.  307 

"  Well,  let  him  try,"  the  deacon  said  ;  "  he  will  find  he 
will  have  to  work  alone." 

A  few  weeks  passed  along,  and  nothing  was  kntfwn  of 
the  pastor's  feelings  in  relation  to  his  new  appointment. 
He  must  have  known,  however,  that  there  was  strong 
anxiety  on  the  part  of  his  parishioners  as  to  the  disposition 
he  would  make  of  it ;  for  on  some  of  the  many  tongues 
which  were  in  motion  it  must  have  been  borne  to  him 
that  his  friends  were  enduring  the  anguish  of  suspense, 
and  that  it  was  their  strong  desire  that  he  would  speedily 
remove  it.  At  length,  before  pronouncing  the  benediction 
at  the  close  of  the  afternoon  services,  he  requested  the 
audience  to  be  seated,  as  he  had  a  communication  to 
make.  If  ever  five  hundred  souls  were  in  breathless 
silence,  it  was  then.  Mr.  Eldridge  proceeded  to  remark 
that  he  was  aware  that  there  had  been  considerable  ex- 
citement in  the  parish  in  relation  to  an  invitation  he  had 
recently  received  to  a  vacant  professorship  in  one  of  our 
theological  institutions.  He  extremely  regretted  that 
the  appointment  had  been  made  public,  as  he  always  pre- 
ferred to  have  matters  of  this  character  confined  to  the 
parties  immediately  concerned  until  a  decision  could  be 
made.  He  remarked  that  his  judgment  had  long  since 
been  satisfied  as  to  the  duty  of  a  pastor's  continuance 
among  his  people.  He  was  now,  and  ever  had  been,  op- 
posed to  ruptures  of  the  pastoral  relation.  There  were 
circumstances  attending  his  recent  appointment,,  he  said, 
which  were  to  him  very  pleasant.  He  felt  that  he  could 
enjoy  himself  much  in  the  situation  to  which  he  had  been 
invited,  but  that  he  felt  that  he  could  not  with  a  good  con- 
science sunder  the  ties  that  bound  him  to  the  people  over 
whom  he  had  been  solemnly  ordained.  He  had  returned 
such  a  decision  in  a  verbal  manner  weeks  before  to  one 
of  the  trustees  of  the  institution  to  which  he  had  been 
called.  He  was  urged,  however,  to  take  more  time  for  the 


308         A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

consideration  of  the  matter  ;  and,  from  respect  to  the  body 
from  whence  the  invitation  proceeded,  he  had  taken  such 
time,  but  said  the  time  only  confirmed  his  first  decision, 
and  that  decision  "  I  returned  in  a  letter  last  week,  which 
I  now  here  publicly  declare.  My  views  of  my  duty  to 
the  people  of  my  charge  forbid  my  resignation.  I  have 
consecrated  myself  to  your  service,  and  nothing  that  I  can  do 
shall  be  done  to  sunder  the  relation  now  subsisting  between  us." 
After  this  manner  the  pastor  addressed  his  people,  and 
then  pronounced  the  benediction,  and  the  people  began  to 
disperse.  Their  countenances  bespoke  their  relief  and 
that  they  were  most  happily  relieved.  Throughout  the 
week,  in  that  parish,  there  was  generally  the  expression 
of  gladness  that  their  pastor,  who  had  served  them  so 
long  and  so  faithfully,  would  continue  to  minister  to  them 
still.  If  there  were  exceptions,  they  were  known  only  to 
the  excepted.  The  breath  of  regret  was  not  heard  by 
others  than  those  from  whom  it  escaped.  If  such  regret 
had  been  open,  it  would  have  been  at  once  swallowed  up 
in  the  general  joy,  and  have  drawn  upon  those  expressing 
it  the  severest  frowns  and  indignation. 


CHAPTER   XXVII. 

A  DISAPPOINTMENT. 

THE  impression  must  have  been  made  upon  the  mind 
of  the  reader  that  almost  every  excellence  that  attaches 
to  the  character  of  a  faithful  pastor  was  to  be  found  in 
Mr.  Eldridge.  Not  only  had  he  from  year  to  year  ad- 
vanced in  theological  learning  and  ability  to  preach  ;  not 
only  had  he  truly  looked  after  the  sick  and  sorrowful  in 
the  many  families  belonging  to  his  charge  ;  not  only  had 
he  a  watchful  eye  continually  out  on  all  things  which 
would  contribute  to  the  prosperity  of  the  church  and 
parish,  whether  in  their  corporate  or  ecclesiastical  charac- 
ter ;  not  only  was  he  the  friend  and  advocate  of  those  be- 
nevolent organizations  the  object  of  which  is  to  lift  the 
veil  of  moral  darkness  from  all  mankind,  and  thereby 
bring  them  under  the  genial  influences  of  Scripture,  of 
science,  and  of  every  thing  which  can  adorn  human  na 
ture ;  but  he  was  more  particular  and  specific,  often,  in 
the  objects  of  his  benevolent  regard.  His  motto  seemed 
to  be,  "  Care  for  every  one :  do  unto  others  as  you  would 
wish  others  to  do  to  you."  If  he  saw  that  he  could  aid  a 
parishioner  in  any  way,  he  was  alert  in  sending  him 
assistance.  Instances  of  such  friendly  interposition  might 
be  cited  by  hundreds,  which  had  occurred  in  the  years  of 
his  ministry,  and  many  of  them,  too,  which,  in  the  process  of 
their  manifestation,  had  been  veiled  from  the  public  eye. 

(309) 


310  A   VOICE   FROM   THE   PARSONAGE. 

A  noticeable  feature  in  Mr.  Eldridge's  character  was 
ais  interest  in  mind.  As  this  constitutes  the  great  distinc- 
tion between  man  and  the  brute  creation,  he  wished  to 
see  every  where  this  distinction  made  as  broad  as  it  was 
in  the  power  of  education  to  accomplish.  Consequently, 
almost  every  family  in  his  parish  experienced  an  impetus 
from  him  in  the  care  of  their  own  intellectual  powers. 
Those  who  were  parents  in  an  especial  manner  were  often 
roused  to  a  consideration  in  this  respect  of  their  obliga- 
tions to  their  children.  By  Mr.  Eldridge,  more  than  any 
one  individual  in  the  town,  were  the  educational  interests 
advanced  among  the  people  far  beyond  those  in  the  sur- 
rounding community.  From  among  his  own  people  did 
our  colleges  receive  more  youth  to  educate  than  from  all 
other  towns  in  the  county.  Whenever  he  noticed  a 
sprightly,  promising  young  intellect,  he  marked  it,  and  in 
his  conversation  with  the  parents  excited  them  to  care  for 
it  well  and  see  that  it  had  the  necessary  means  for  its 
culture.  If  he  found  such  mind  in  a  family  where  the 
parents  were  unable  to  do  it  justice,  he  would  himself 
often  look  up  friends  who  would  assist  in  the  important 
enterprise ;  and  quite  a  number  of  lights  in  the  legal, 
medical,  and  clerical  professions  would  never  have  been 
known  had  he  not  interposed  and  prevented  poverty  from 
casting  them  into  obscurity  as  they  began  to  emerge  into 
being.  From  almost  the  beginning  of  his  ministry  to  the 
period  when  we  are  now  contemplating  him  he  might  be 
heard  facetiously  alluding  to  his  "  boys  whom  lie,  had  to  look 
after,"  meaning  those  who  were  preparing  for  college  or 
already  there. 

At  the  period  of  his  ministry  in  which  we  are  now 
considering  Mr.  Eldridge  there  was  a  young  man  in  his 
senior  year  in  college  who  was  indebted  to  him  for 
being  thus  distinguished.  Henry  Arnold  was  the  son  of 
poor  parents.  Had  his  father  lived,  the  destiny  of  tho 


A  DISAPPOINTMENT.  311 

children  would  not  probably  have  been  any  better  ;  for  all 
that  he  could  do  for  them  was  to  feed  and  clothe  them. 
He  died  when  Henry  was  four  years  of  age,  and  then  the 
care  of  him  and  of  his  sisters  devolved  on  his  mother. 
Henry  was  a  bright  boy,  and  ever  attracted  the  notice  of 
his  pastor.  In  the  school  he  was  always  diligent,  and  for 
this  reason  prosperous  in  his  studies.  Before  he  was 
twelve  years  old  Mr.  Eldridge  was  often  heard  to  say, 
"  Henry  Arnold  must  have  an  education."  In  one  of 
those  revivals  which  so  frequently  blessed  Mr.  Eldridge's 
ministry  Henry  was  converted.  He  had  lived  then  six- 
teen years.  Though  the  pastor  had  not  heretofore  seen 
his  way  clear  to  put  him  in  the  preparatory  course  for 
college,  this  event  decided  the  matter.  "  Such  a  mind  as 
Henry  Arnold  has  must  not  be  lost  to  the  church,"  was  a 
remark  often  heard  about  this  period  from  Mr.  Eldridge. 
"  He  must  have  an  education  ;  he  must  be  a  minister." 
So  enthusiastic  was  the  pastor  in  the  matter  of  the  educa- 
tion of  this  youth  that  he  encouraged  him  to  commence 
fitting  for  college  at  once.  He  furnished  him  with  books, 
and  for  months  heard  his  recitations  and  took  the  whole 
charge  of  his  education.  Indeed,  he  fitted  him  for  college. 
He  then  found  friends  who  contributed  for  his  support 
there ;  for  he  was  regarded  by  every  one  as  a  superior 
young  man  and  as  well  deserving  the  advantages  of  a 
college.  Nor  did  his  career  here  in  the  least  abate  the 
ardor  of  friendship.  It  rather  increased  it,  and  at  the 
same  time  furnished  a  satisfactory  remuneration  for  the 
aid  which  had  been  and  was  being  rendered.  Hope  began 
to  be  strong  of  him  that  he  would  make  a  most  distin- 
guished clergyman.  All  who  knew  him  felt  safe  in  the 
indulgence  of  such  hope  ;  for  his  talents  from  year  to 
year,  in  the  facilities  for  improvement  which  were  around 
him,  shone  brighter  and  brighter,  and  thus  indicated  that 
his  path  in  this  world  would  by  no  means  be  narrow  or 


312         A  VOICE  PROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

obscure.  Mr.  Eldridge,  all  saw,  was  proud  of  him.  Among 
the  people  he  relished  any  allusions  to  young  Arnold. 

Two  terms  of  his  senior  year  had  expired,  and  Henry 
came  home  to  spend  the  vacation.  The  second  house  that 
saw  him  on  his  return  from  college  was  always  that  of  his 
pastor  and  friend.  From  his  mother's  he  went  always  to 
Mr.  Eldridge's.  When  he  returned  to  pass  this  his  last 
vacation  Mr.  Eldridge  was  out  of  town,  and  not  expected 
back  for  two  days.  He,  however,  had  a  warm  reception 
from  the  pastor's  wife,  and  was  in  and  out  at  the  parsonage 
several  times  before  Mr.  Eldridge's  return.  Mrs.  Eldridge 
thought  she  discovered  in  some  of  the  expressions  of 
Henry  an  inclination  towards  some  other  profession  than 
that  of  the  ministry  ;  but  as  all  the  circumstances  of  the 
case  seemed  to  forbid  such  an  inclination,  and  as  the  mani- 
festation was  but  slight,  she  could  not  realize  that  it  could 
have  been  designed  by  Henry.  Of  course  she  did  not 
converse  with  him  as  if  there  was  a  fear  in  her  nriiid  that 
he  would  not  be  a  minister. 

Mr,  Eldridge  returned  home  the  third  day  after  Henry's 
arrival.  Of  course  there  was  much  said  of  the  friend 
who  had  long  been  near  and  dear  to  the  pastor  and  wife. 
Whilst  they  were  conversing  respecting  him  during  the 
evening,  Mrs.  Eldridge  remarked  that  she  did  not  know 
but  that  Henry  was  thinking  of  studying  law,  from  some 
expressions  he  made  to  her.  "  He  did  not  say  much  about 
it,  and  perhaps  some  people  would  not  have  noticed  the 
least  tendency  in  his  mind  that  way,"  she  remarked.  Mr. 
Eldridge  could  not  for  a  moment  entertain  such  a  sugges- 
tion, and  at  once  charged  it  to  some  imaginary  influence 
which  had  possession  of  his  wife,  which  the  good  lady  was 
willing  to  have  done.  When  Henry  called  the  next  day, 
the  pastor,  in  the  course  of  the  interview,  remembering 
what  his  wife  suggested,  without  the  least  anxiety  on  his 
part  on  the  subject,  but  merely  for  the  sake  of  a  littlo 
pleasantry,  said  to  his  friend,  — 


A  DISAPPOINTMENT.  313 

"What  do  you  think  my  wife  hinted  to  me  last  night 
after  I  returned  ?  " 

Henry,  either  being  at  a  loss  for  the  right  way  of  reply 
or  not  being  yet  ready  to  make  the  disclosure,  hesitated, 
when  Mr.  Eldridge  proceeded  and  said, — 

"  She  remarked  that  she  did  not  know  but  that  you  in- 
tended to  study  law." 

Henry  instantly  colored,  and  with  hesitation  replied, — 

"  I  was  not  aware  that  I  had  said  to  Mrs.  Eldridge  that 
such  was  my  intention  ;  but  I  must  say  that  I  have  been 
greatly  tried  of  late  on  the  subject  of  a  profession." 

At  this  remark  Mr.  Eldridge  was  greatly  affected,  and 
he  made  no  reply  for  a  few  moments.  At  length,  however, 
he  said,  "  I  thought  that  question  had  been  decided  for  years." 

"  Well,  sir,  so  did  I  think  so  until  the  last  term.  I  have 
always  contemplated  the  subject  pro  spec  tively,  you  are 
aware,  and  did  not  dwell  upon  every  thing  connected  with 
the  ministry  as  I  have  been  induced  of  late  to  do,  as  the- 
time  draws  near  for  me  to  commence  a  professional  prepa- 
ration." 

"  I  supposed,"  Mr.  Eldridge  remarked,  "  your  whole 
soul  was  absorbed  with  the  glorious  end  of  the  ministry, 
and  that  its  incidentals  were  of  minor  importance." 

"  Well,  sir,  the  incidentals,  as  you  are  pleased  to  call 
them,  may  very  much  affect  some  minds,  so  much  so  as  to 
abridge  their  powers  of  doing  good.  I  have  thought  tkat 
it  is  in  the  power  of  a  pious  physician  or  lawyer  to  do  as 
much  for  God  and  man  as  a  minister  may  accomplish. 
Certainly  either  might  do  more  if  the  minister  be  not  able 
to  fulfil  his  ministry." 

<(  Not  able  to  fulfil  his  ministry  ? "  Mr.  Eldridge  said. 
"I  do  not  know  as  I  understand  you.  If  a  minister  has  a 
heart  to  preach  and  is  blessed  with  health,  why  cannot  he 
do  so  and  fulfil  his  ministry  ?  There  is  an  abundant  call 
for  his  labors." 

27 


314  A  VOICE  FROM  THE   PARSONAGE. 

"  I  should  not  think  there  was  a  very  abundant  call  for 
ministers,  judging  from  the  manner  in  which  they  aro 
treated.  When  farmers  have  any  portion  of  their  crops 
cut  off  and  they  feel  that  they  may  fall  short,  they  are  apt 
to  husband  what  little  they  have  with  great  care  and  to 
use  it  with  great  economy.  If,  on  the  other  hand,  there  is 
a  great  supply,  they  are  more  careless  and  indifferent. 
Now,  it  appears  to  me  that  if  ministers  were  not  very  plenty, 
and  if  people  did  not  think  it  was  one  of'  the  easiest  things 
in  the  world  to  get  a  minister,  they  would  not  treat  them  as 
they  often  do.  Really,  Mr.  Eldridge,  I  have  thought  I 
should  be  used  up  in  a  very  few  years  and  be  of  no  manner  of 
service  to  the  church,  if  I  should  study  theology  and  enter  the 
ministry.  There  are  many  ministers  of  whom  I  have  heard, 
and  some  whom  I  know,  who  were  thrown  aside  from  their 
work  before  they  were  fifty  years  of  age.  Some  of  these 
were  men  of  good  talents,  of  fervent  piety,  and  sound 
preachers,  and  of  irreproachable  characters.  Now,  if 
such  had  studied  law  or  physic,  they  might  have  been 
eminently  useful  as  long  as  they  lived.  And  then,  again, 
if  a  minister  sustains  himself  among  a  people  till  he  is 
fifty  or  sixty  years  of  age,  he  cannot  reasonably  expect,  to 
be  useful  much  beyond  that  age.  The  cry  is  after  young  men, 
and  the  cry  would  be  after  a  young  man,  and  the  aged 
pastor  would  hear  it,  and  be  compelled  cither  to  retire  or 
have  a  colleague.  Now,  I  do  not  like  such  things.  I 
think  an  aged  minister  deserves  to  be  as  well  appreciated 
as  an  aged  doctor  or  lawyer.  We  all  know  that,  when  a 
physician  has  acquired  age,  he  is  more  sought  after  and  more 
confided  in  on  that  account ;  so  it  is  with  a  lawyer.  Now, 
as  people  when  they  are  sick  prefer  the  experienced  and 
aged  physician  to  one  who  has  had  no,  or  but  a  very 
small,  experience,  —  and  as  people,  when  they  have  property 
in  jeopardy,  consult  experienced  and  aged  lawyers  in 
preference  to  younger  and  inexperienced  men, — I  do  not 


A   DISAPPOINTMENT.  315 

see  why,  in  the  matter  of  their  souls'  concerns,  they  should 
not  prefer  the  ministers  whose  enlarged  experience  ena- 
bles them  far  to  transcend  in  ability  to  do  good  the 
young  man  who  just  commences  preaching.  Now,  Mr. 
Eldridge,  you  must  have  seen  that,  the  older  a  minister 
grows,  the  less  popular  he  becomes.  Now,  I  do  not  wish  to 
die  before  my  time  J  and  I  am  very  much  afraid,  if  I  become 
a  minister,  /  shall.  I  desire  to  do  good  as  long  as  I  live, 
and  to  increase  in  power  and  ability  «,nd  opportunity  to  do 
good  till  I  die." 

"  Yo"u  have  made  out  something  of  a  case,"  Mr.  Eldridge 
remarked,  "  I  suppose  you  think.  What  if  all  young  men 
should  reason  as  you  do  ;  what  would  become  of  the  church 
and  the  world  ?  " 

"They  would  both  become  better,  I  hope.  I  think  peo- 
ple would  begin  to  reflect  on  their  sinfulncss  in  their  treat- 
ment of  ministers  ;  that  they  would  repent  and  bring  forth 
fruits  worthy  of  repentance.  Sometimes  I  have  of  late 
thought  that  it  would  be  a  good  thing  for  the  church  if  all 
our  pious  young  men  in  our  colleges  would  turn  their 
attention  to  law,  or  medicine,  or  teaching  for  a  few  years, 
so  that  there  should  be  none  in  our  theological  seminaries 
preparing  for  the  ministry.  If  such  should  be  the  case,  I 
think  ministers  would  be  in  demand  and  be  treated  as 
though  they  were  of  some  account." 

"  I  am  sorry  to  perceive,"  Mr.  Eldridge  replied,  "  that 
you  are  inclined  to  punish  them  all  alike.  Now,  what  you 
allege  against  people  in  their  treatment  of  ministers  is  not  > 
true  of  many  parishes.  •  It  is  not  true  of  mine.  I  have 
been  here  now  seventeen  years,  and  I  do  not  see  but  that 
I  am  as  much  respected  as  ever  I  was  and  as  much  appre- 
ciated. My  people  respect  ministers,  I  have  thought,  and 
are  inclined  to  exalt  them,  perhaps,  more  than  is  proper. 
And  there  are  other  parishes  that  I  could  mention  who 
always  treat  their  pastors  well,  and  who  would  be  aggrieved 


316  A  VOICE  PROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

and  feel  themselves  slandered  by  such  remarks  as  you  have 
made." 

"There  are  exceptions  to  every  rule,  you  know,  Mr. 
Eldridge.  I  am  aware  that  what  you  state  of  some  par- 
ishes is  true.  I  am  willing  to  concede  that  we  find  here 
and  there  a  minister  who  is  appropriately  treated  by  his 
people  and  who  grows  in  their  affection  and  confidence ; 
but  I  think,  where  one  such  parish  is  found,  there  can  be  ten 
found  of  the  opposite  "character." 

"  Do  you  find  much  sympathy  in  the  pious  members  of 
your  class  with  the  views  you  have  expressed  to  me  ?  "  Mr. 
Eldridge  inquired. 

"  That  I  do.  I  do  not  think  I  should  have  felt  as  I  do 
had  I  not  conversed  with  these  irembers  as  I  have.  Our 
whole  class  during  the  past  year,  almost  every  week  after 
recitation,  have  remained  a  while  and  debated  on  the  in- 
ducements held  out  by  the  three  professions  ;  and  I  tell  you 
we  have  gone  over  the  ground  pretty  thoroughly.  What 
has  been  said  in  these  debates  about  the  inducements  at 
the  present  day  held  out  by  the  ministry  has  opdned  my 
eyes  some  and  led  me  to  close  thought." 

"  What  has  been  thus  said  ?  "  Mr.  Eldridge  asked.  "  It 
would  be  a  gratification  to  me  to  be»  informed." 

"  The  precariousness  of  the  pastoral  relation  is  one  of 
the  strong  objections  to  the  clerical  profession.  A  man 
don't  know  when  he  is  safe.  He  may  think  himself  strong 
in  the  affections  of  his  people  one  month,  and  before 
another  comes  he  may  find  that  uneasiness  has  set  in  and 
that  many  of  his  people  desire  some  other  minister. 

"  One  member  of  the  class  said  that  the  minister  in  the 
town  from  which  he  came  was  dismissed  last  year  because 
some  of  his  people  became  dissatisfied  at  the  choice  he  made 
of  a  wife.  It  was  desired  that  he  should  marry  a  friend  of 
an  influential  family  in  the  parish  ;  and,  as  he  took  the  lib- 
erty to  select  his  own  wife,  this  family  took  exceptions  to  the 


A    DISAPPOINTMENT.  317 

course,  and  withdrew  their  influence  from  him,  and  silently 
exerted  themselves  to  his  prejudice  among  the  people, 
which  resulted  in  his  dismission. 

"  Another  member  of  the  class  remarked  that  there  was 
then  a  great  commotion  in  the  parish  where  he  resided 
because  t/ie  minister's  cows  got  into  his  neighbor's  corn.  Tho 
fact  was,  the  neighbor  would  not  keep  up  his  fence,  and 
the  minister  did  not  feel  that  it  was  his  duty  to  see  to  it 
any  further  than  to  request  the  neighbor  to  keep  it  in 
repair.  He  could  not  afford  to  hire  his  cows  pastured  else- 
where than  in  his  own  pasture ;  and  so  they  went  where 
they  chose,  and  much  damage  was  done.  The  people  gen- 
erally did  not  blame  the  minister  ;  but  the  neighbor  became 
exasperated,  and  began  to  rave  wherever  he  went  about 
the  minister,  telling  for  truth  what  never  happened  ;  and 
in  this  way  he  succeeded  at  last  in  creating  a  strong  pre- 
judice against  him,  which  it  was  thought  would  terminate 
in  his  dismission. 

"  Another  member  of  the  class  mentioned  that  the  min- 
ister in  the  town  adjoining  the  one  in  which  he  lived  had 
lately  been  dismissed  because  a  certain  D.  D.,  who  had 
some  considerable  influence  in  the  parish,  had  a  relative 
whom  he  wished  to  have  settled  there.  To  bring  about 
this  result  the  doctor  blew  up  a  little  fire  which  had  almost 
gone  out,  and  started  one  or  two  others  in  a  different 
quarter  of  the  parish  ;  and  at  length  the  pastor  was  so 
warmly  situated  that  he  thought  it  for  his  comfort  to 
vacate  the  parish  for  another  minister.  . 

"  Another  member  of  the  class  said  that,  in  the  town 
where  a  brother  of  his  resided,  the  minister  was  about 
being  dismissed  because  a  pretty  important  lady  in  the 
parish  did  not  think  he  was  the  right  kind  of  a  man  to 
build  up  the  parish.  As  she  had  much  influence,  many 
people  listened  to  her,  and  of  course  the  minister  had  to  go." 

"Well,"  said  Mr.  Eldridge,  "I  should  have  thought 
27* 


318  A   VOICE   FROM   THE   PARSONAGE. 

some  of  the  class  who  advocated  for  the  ministry  would 
have  urged  that  ministers  are  sometimes  dismissed  when 
the  people  are  not  in  fault  at  all  —  when  the  fault  was  alto- 
gether that  of  the  minister." 

"  They  did,  sir.  There  were  two  or  three  of  the  class, 
who  will  study  theology  at  all  hazards,  who  did  take  this 
ground  ;  and  they  mentioned  several  instances  where  pas- 
tors had  been  dismissed  on  account  of  their  own  conduct. 
It  was  said  a  minister  had  lately  been  dismissed  for  his 
being  too  much  of  a  horse  trader ;  that  another  nad  left 
his  people  recently  because  he  would  not  study.  He  pre- 
ferred the  society  of  news  tellers  to  his  books,  and  was 
more  willing  to  b,e  on  the  piazza  of  the  hotel,  conversing 
with  boarders  there,  than  to  being  about  among  his  peo- 
ple laboring  to  benefit  their  souls.  But,7'  the  young  man 
said,  "  those  who  advocated  for  the  ministry  could  not 
bring  up  many  instances  where  dismission  had  taken  place 
when  the  ministers  were  most  in  fault.  The  other  side 
could  adduce  five  cases  when  the  people  were  wholly  to 
blame  to  one  cited  where  the  fault  was  entirely  the 
minister's." 

In  this  way  did  the  pastor  and  his  friend  continue  their 
conversation  for  some  time,  the  pastor  feeling  deeply 
grieved  at  the  tendency  manifested  by  his  friend  towards 
a  diiferent  profession  from  that  to  which  he  had  supposed 
he  was  devoted.  Subsequent  interviews  only  strengthened 
the  pastor's  conviction  that  the  talents  and  piety  of  Henry 
Arnold  would  probably  be  lost  to  the  ministry,  and  he 
mourned  most  sincerely  over  his  disappointed  expectations. 

Young  Arnold  at  the  close  of  the  vacation  returned  to 
college,  and  in  a  few  months  was  graduated  with  the 
highest  honors  of  his  class.  He  returned  home,  fixed  in 
his  purpose  to  pursue  the  study  of  law,  provided  he  could 
do  so  with  the  approbation  of  those  to  whom  he  was  in- 
debted for  his  collegiate  education.  As  he  made  known 


A  DISAPPOINTMENT.  319 

this  decision  his  friends  were  much  disappointed  ;  for  they 
were  all  induced  to'  render  him  their  assistance,  in  the  be- 
lief that  they  would  be  thus  adding  another  minister  of 
Christ  to  the  world.  In  the  present  state  of  Henry  Ar- 
nold's feeling,  however,  they  could  not  urge  him  to  enter 
on  a  profession  against  his  own  convictions,  and  therefore 
yielded  to  his  wishes  and  released  him  from  all  obliga- 
tions to  study  theology.  He  therefore  at  once  entered 
the  office  of  a  distinguished  lawyer,  where  he  diligently 
prosecuted  the  study  of  law  till  his  entrance  on  practice. 
Though  he  had  turned  aside  from  the  ministry,  he  did  not 
allow  the  lustre  of  Christian  character  to  become  dim. 
He  was  regarded  as  a  devoted  Christian,  and  his  many 
ways  of  activity  for  the  advancement  of  the  kingdom  of 
his  Savior  were  most  warmly  appreciated  by  all  who  were 
acquainted  with  him. 


CHAPTER    XXVIII. 

CALL  TO   ANOTHER   COUNCIL. 

MR.  ELDRIDGE,  on  his  return  home  to  dinner,  after  having 
"been  absent  all  the  morning  in  the  discharge  of  his  paro- 
chial duties,  found  on  the  table  of  his  study  a  letter  mis- 
sive from  a  church  and  pastor,  requesting  the  presence  of 
himself  and  a  delegate  in  an  ecclesiastical  council,  to  ad- 
vise and  act  in  some  matters  of  difficulty.  Of  the  pastor 
whose  name  was  attached  to  the  letter  he  had  for  some 
years  heard  pleasant  things  said ;  and  though  a  stranger 
to  him,  yet  Mr.  Eldridge  was  accustomed  to  regard  him 
as  among  our  most  useful  ministers.  He  therefore  was 
pained  to  learn,  as  the  letter  missive  foreshadowed,  that 
untoward  events  had  disturbed  the  relations  of  this  brother 
to  his  people  which  might  result  in  his  dismission.  Al- 
though the  distance  was  somewhat  remote,  yet  Mr.  El- 
dridge found  himself  possessed  with  a  strong  inclination  to 
be  present  at  the  council,  and  his  church  accordingly  voted 
to  send.  He  therefore,  with  a  delegate,  at  the  appointed 
time  repaired  to  the  scene  of  trouble. 

When  the  period  arrived  for  the  pastor  to  expose  to 
the  council  his  situation  in  relation  to  the  people  of  his 
charge,  he  remarked  that  he  had  for  months  past  felt  that 
his  pastoral  connection  with  his  present  people  must  be  dis- 
solved, and  that  he  should  in  a  quiet  manner  have  sought 
a  release  had  his  judgment  and  conscience  sanctioned  the 

(320) 


CALL  TO  ANOTHER  COUNCIL.  321 

course.  He  remarked,  he  was  impressed  that  more  than 
himself  were  affected  by  the  causes  which  had  of  late  in- 
terrupted his  usefulness,  and,  therefore,  that  it  was  due  to 
other  interests  that  he  should  sacrifice  his  own  private 
feelings  and  bring  out  to  the  public  eye  the  course  pur- 
sued to  satisfy  individual  animosity  and  gratify  unholy 
feelings,  in  attempts  to  undermine  and  destroy  his  useful- 
ness. In  consequence  of  these  things,  he  remarked,  great 
and  threatening  evils  had  already  appeared  in  our  Zion. 
The  stability  of  our  churches  and  the  efficiency  of  our 
ministry  are  greatly  endangered  ;  and  he  felt  called  upon 
to  take  a  firm  stand  against  the  facilities  which  of  late 
have  largely  multiplied  for  destroying  the  usefulness  of 
pastors,  for  the  purpose  of  effecting  a  change  of  ministry. 
He  was  convinced  something  ought  to  be  attempted  to 
stop  the  progress  of  the  disorganizing  spirit  which  had  of 
late  affected  our  churches.  He  was  fully  convinced  that 
a  public  manifestation  of  the  conduct  of  churches  who 
make  it  necessary  by  their  own  conduct  for  their  pastors 
to  leave  would  operate  to  deter  from  such  conduct ;  and 
therefore  he  had  not  heeded  the  partial  hints  of  some  of 
his  people  in  the  first  place,  and  their  less  gentle  manifesta- 
tions in  the  last  place,  that  by  giving  up  his  pastorate  to 
a  new  incumbent  he  would  be  conferring  a  favor  upon  his 
people.  He  felt  that  he  would  not  work  with  those  who 
for  no  cause,  and  against  cause,  were  striving  for  his  ruin 
an.ong  the  people  of  his  charge.  It  was  his  belief  that,  if 
they  took  the  laboring  oar,  it  was  best  that  they  alone, 
without  his  help,  should  use  it.  Because  of  these  convic- 
tions, he  remarked,  this  ecclesiastical  council  has  been  con- 
voked to  examine  into  the  state  of  our  affairs  and  to  ad- 
vise to  the  proper  course  for  all  parties  to  pursue. 

The  council  then  required  of  the  committee  a  statement 
of  the  difficulties  in  which  both  pastor  and  people  were 
involved  and  in  relation  to  which  advice  was  sought. 


322         A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

This  requisition  was  met  by  the  chairman,  one  of  the 
deacons  of  the  church,  who  arose  and  remarked  that  "  the 
people  in  this  place  have  for  some  months  past  been  agi- 
tated by  dissatisfaction  with  their  pastor.  It  was  hoped," 
he  continued,  "  that,  when  the  pastor  was  made  acquainted 
with  such  dissatisfaction,  he  would  see  it  most  for  his  com- 
fort and  usefulness  to  seek  some  other  field  of  labor; 
but  he  paid  no  attention  to  complaints,  and  continued, 
after  he  was  apprised  of  them,  to  go  on  as  usual.  He  was, 
as  a  last  resort,  requested  to  unite  in  a  council ;  or,  rather, 
he  proposed  himself  to  submit  the  matter  to  a  council,  and 
the  proposition  was  acceded  to  by  the  church  ;  and  thus  it 
is  why  this  council  has  been  called.  We  have  been  advised 
by  our  pastor  that  the  council  would  expect  complaints  to 
be  submitted  in  writing  ;  and  so  the  committee  have  drawn 
them  up,  and  have  furnished  the  pastor  with  a  copy  of  the 


The  first  charge  is,  that  the  pastor  neglected  to  visit  his 
people. 

The  second,  that  he  was  not  prompt  in  the  payment  of 
his  debts.  Ho  promised  to  pay,  and  did  not  fulfil  his 
agreement. 

The  third  was,  that  the  pastor  failed  in  his  pulpit  per- 
formances, and  did  not  maintain  weekly  prayer  meetings. 

The  fourth  was,  that  the  pastor's  usefulness  in  this  place 
is  at  an  end. 

These  several  charges  were  supported  with  all  the  tes- 
timony that  could  be  obtained  by  the  committee,  and  then 
the  pastor  was  called  upon  to  defend  himself.  Accord- 
ingly he  addressed  himself  at  once  to  the  work  before 
him,  and  remarked,  that  in  relation  to  the  first  charge, 
that  of  visiting  the  people,  he  would  say,  that  he  had  pur- 
sued that  course  which  his  judgment  admonished  him  was 
wise  and  proper.  "  The  people  in  this  place,  as  a  general 
thing,  wish  for  as  little  attention  from  a  minister  in  his 


CALL  TO  ANOTHER   COUNCIL.  323 

professional  character  as  possible.  They  are  ready  enough 
to  see  him  as  a  man,  provided  they  are  not  engaged  in  their 
worldly  business,  which  is  not  very  often  the  case  except 
in  very  stormy  weather  ;  but  to  see  him  as  a  religious 
teacher^as  one  who  comes  to  them  to  converse  on  the  great 
interests  of  the  soul,  they  are  strongly  and  peculiarly  disin- 
clined. When  I  first  came  among  them  I  began  a  course 
of  visitation,  as  I  was  in  the  habit  of  pursuing  in  my  min- 
istry in  the  first  place  of  my  settlement.  I  soon  met  with 
very  serious  obstacles  ;  but,  feeling  that  I  might  be  instru- 
mental in  the  accomplishment  of  good,  I  persevered  and 
went  through,  visiting  ajl  the  people  to  whom  I  could  get 
access.  To  some  I  could  get  no  access.  When  I  was 
seen  approaching,  certain  families  would  close  and  bolt 
their  doors,  and  suffer  me  to  wait  and  knock  for  admis- 
sion in  vain.  Others  would  leave  the  house  and  conceal 
themselves,  as  they  supposed,  from  my  eye.  I  well  remem- 
ber being  in  a  certain  neighborhood,  and,  as  I  was  about 
to  enter  a  certain  house,  seeing  the  man  of  that  house  at 
the  door  as  I  approached  it.  When  I  entered  the  house, 
and  whilst  I  sat  therein,  he  was  not  to  be  seen.  In  answer 
to  my  inquiries  after  him,  I  was  told  he  was  somewhere 
about ;  but  neither  wife  nor  child  moved  to  look  him  up. 
Finishing  my  visit,  and  wishing  to  call  on  another  family, 
my  quickest  route  lay  back  of  this  house,  over  fences  and 
walls.  I  therefore  took  such  route,  and,  as  I  passed  out, 
looking  about  me,  I  saw,  crouching  down  under  an  out 
building,  the  man  whom  I  wished  to  see  and  who  ran  off 
as  I  came  up  to  his  house.  There  I  saw  him,  looking  as  a 
truant  child  looks  when  endeavoring  to  conceal  himself 
from  a  parent  or  some  one  else  who  was  in  search  of  him. 
I  had  no  doubt  then,  I  have  no  doubt  now,  that  this  indi- 
vidual concealed  himself  there  to  be  out  of  my  way  ;  for 
when  I  looked  to  this  place  of  his  concealment  he  started, 
and  there  was  shame  on  his  countenance.  He  was  not 


324  A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

expecting  me  back  of  the  house.  He  thought,  as  I  en- 
tered, so  I  should  depart,  through  the  front  door.  This 
scene  made  a  most  deep  impression  on  my  mind,  and 
it  gave  me  the  general  character  of  the  people  ;  and  I  am 
sorry  to  say  that  my  subsequent  acquaintance  with  them 
has  not  altered  this  impression.  With  a  minister  of  the 
gospel  they  wish  to  have  as  little  to  do  as  possible.  I 
have  felt  that  time  spent  in  going  from  house  to  house 
here,  where  the  disinclination  is  so  general  to  hear  any 
thing  said  on  the  subject  of  personal  religion,  was  time 
thrown  away.  Whenever  and  wherever  I  could  visit  to 
profit  I  have  done  so. 

"  As  to  the  next  complaint,  that  I  have  broken  my  word 
in  regard  to  money  matters,  I  have  to  remark,  that  I  have 
often  engaged  to  pay  sundry  bills  at  a  time  which  was 
always  past  the  period  when  my  salary  was  due.  The 
individuals  to  whom  I  was  indebted  knew  that  I  was  de- 
pendent upon  the  promptness  of  the  people  to  be  prompt 
myself ;  and  I  have  not  till  recently  heard  that  any  blamo 
was  attached  to  me  for  delinquency.  The  backwardness 
of  the  people  in  not  paying  my  salary  I  have  often  heard 
most  severely  censured  ;  and,  too,  I  have  often  heard  the 
wonder  expressed  how  I  could  get  along  as  I  did  when 
not  a  quarter  part  of  the  half-year's  salary  was  paid  when 
the  next  half  year  had  expired.  I  own  that  I  have  not 
paid  my  debts  as  promptly  as  I  agreed  ;  but  I  agreed  to  pay 
them  on  the  faith  of  the  promptitude  of  the  people.  As 
they  have  been  backward  and  arc  now  greatly  in  arrears 
to  me,  I  submit  it  to  the  council  if  a  complaint  against  me 
for  breaking  my  word  in  this  matter  comes  with  a  good 
grace  from  them. 

"  In  relation  to  the  next  charge,  that  of  failure  in  my 
pulpit  performances,  I  would  remark,  that  I  have  never 
equalled  my  wishes  in  this  respect.  I  did  not  equal  them 
when  I  preached  to  this  people  as  a  candidate,  nor  in  the 


CALL  TO   ANOTHER   COUNCIL.  325 

four  years  when  the  reports  came  to  me  and  went  forth 
abroad  from  the  people  here  that  they  had  the  smartest 
man  in  the  association.  I  think  there  has  been  no  falling 
off  in  the  power  of  my  preaching.  I  have  endeavored, 
to  the  best  of  my  ability,  to  preach  faithfully  and  to  bring 
no  unbeaten  oil  into  the  sanctuary.  I  have  with  me  here 
the  sermons  I  prepared  and  preached  during  the  year  end- 
ing the  last  Sabbath,  thirty-six  in  number  ;  and  I  can  have 
here  thirty-nine  sermons  I  prepared  and  preached  the  pre- 
vious year,  for  the  inspection  of  the  council ;  and  there 
are  individuals  of  intelligence  and  education  who  will 
testify  that,  in  their  opinion,  instead  of  having  failed  in 
my  pulpit  performances,  I  have  advanced  from  year  to 
year  in  interest.  I  think,  after  the  council  shall  have 
heard  their  testimony,  they  will  determine  that  my  oppo- 
nents have  altogether  failed  in  substantiating  this  charge. 
As  it  respects  the  discontinuance  of  the  weekly  prayer 
meeting,  I  would  say,  that  I  did  so  because  there  were  but 
two  or  three  who  would  come  together  for  the  service. 
I  ever  have  felt  the  importance  of  these  meetings  —  have 
felt  the  need  of  them  for  my  own  profit  and  encourage- 
ment, and  for  the  good  of  the  church  and  the  benefit  of 
the  people  ;  but  from  the  first  there  has  been  a  disinclina- 
tion on  the  part  of  the  church  to  attend  upon  them.  I 
have  preached  on  the  subject.  "When  I  have  notified  these 
meetings  from  the  pulpit,  I  have  often  urged  the  necessity 
and  importance  of  their  being  attended.  I  have  con- 
versed in  private  with  the  members  of  the  church  in  rela- 
tion to  their  own  duty  to  attend  the  prayer  meetings  ;  and 
yet  they  have  not  been  attended.  Often  I  have  been 
to  the  place  of  prayer  and  not  an  individual  was  to 
be  seen.  The  fact  is,  the  brethren  of  the  church  are 
bound  up  in  the  world,  and  have  no  heart  to  pray,  I  fear. 
As  to  the  last  charge,  that  my  usefulness  is  at  an  end  in 
this  place,  I  would  say,  that  I  fear  it  is  if  the  present  feel- 
28 


326  A  VOICE  PROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

ing  continues.  But  how  has  it  been  destroyed  ?  I  think 
I  can  throw  some  light  on  this  matter.  For  four  years  it 
was  generally  acknowledged  that  I  was  just  the  man  for 
this  people.  All  said  this.  And  now,  how  has  my  useful- 
ness been  destroyed  in  the  last  two  years  ?  —  which  is  the 
time  my  opponents  allege  that  I  have  not  been  useful  here. 
About  two  years  ago  I  felt  it  to  be  my  duty  to  preach  on 
certain  subjects  and  rebuke  certain  sins.  I  felt  called 
upon  thus  to  do  by  the  good  of  the  people.  I  did  this, 
and  many,  very  many,  there  were  who  expressed  them- 
selves gratified  at  my  course,  and  who  gave  it  as  their 
opinion  that  good  would  be  the  consequence.  There  was 
one  man,  however,  who  took  exceptions  to  my  preaching. 
He  thought  I  was  personal,  and  he  became  actively  op- 
posed to  me.  The  fact  was,  I  never  thought  of  this  indi- 
vidual in  particular  when  I  preached  the  sermons  to  which 
he  was  so  much  opposed.  It  was  the  farthest  from  my 
design  to  hold  him  up,  as  he  alleges  that  I  did,  as  on  the 
highway  to  the  world  of  torment.  I  have  told  him  this, 
and  I  have  told  others  this,  before  ;  but  he  would  have  it 
that  I  preached  to  him,  and  would  not  be  pacified  or 
reasoned  with.  Being  a  man  of  wealth,  he  had  influence. 
A  number  of  the  people  here  were  indebted  to,  and  felt 
their  dependence,  in  a  measure,  upon  him.  There  were 
some  such  in  the  church ;  one  of  the  deacons  is  of  this 
number ;  and  this  individual  resolved  on  my  dismission, 
and  he  went  to  work  accordingly  to  effect  it.  He  went  to 
the  deacon,  who  was  largely  indebted  to  him,  and  told 
him  that  I  must  leave.  He  represented  to  him  that  many 
here  were  dissatisfied,  and  he  succeeded  in  souring  the 
mind  of  the  deacon  towards  me  and  in  making  him  an  in- 
strument to  aid  him  in  the  work  on  which  he  was  bent. 
The  deacon  began  to  exert  an  influence  to  my  disadvan- 
tage. Of  course  he  was  listened  to,  aud  what  he  said  to 
others  had  weight.  In  this  way  has  it  come  to  pass  that 


CALL  TO   ANOTHER   COUNCIL.  327 

ray  usefulness  is  at  an  end  ;  not  by  my  negkct  of  duty,  but 
by  my  fidelity,  as  I  fully  believe.  Had  I  preached  so  as  to 
have  disturbed  no  one's  conscience  or  heart,  I  verily  believe 
those  who  were  the  first  to  proclaim  that  my  usefulness 
was  at  an  end  here  would  have  been  silent." 

Various  individuals  were  called  upon  by  the  pastor,  who 
fully  substantiated  his  remarks  in  relation  to  all  the  charges 
which  had  been  adduced  against  him.  It  was  evident  that 
his  opponents  were  not  prepared  for  such  a  general  raking 
up  of.  their  conduct,  and  had  not  anticipated  that  what 
they  had  said  in  the  ear  would  be  proclaimed  on  the  house 
tops.  Some  who  looked  on  thought  that  they  read  in 
their  looks  that,  if  they  had  supposed  that  their  course  to 
ruin  and  destroy  a  pastor  would  have  been  thus  known, 
they  would  have  been  still  and  not  have  engaged  in  this 
work  of  meanness. 

The  parties,  having  made  to  the  council  all  the  exposi- 
tion they  desired  of  the  difficulties  in  which  they  were 
involved,  were  left  by  this  body,  who  adjourned  for  private 
deliberation  from  the  vestry,  where  they  had  thus  far  met 
to  a  private  house.  Here  they  were  in  session  several 
hours,  carefully  considering  the  testimony  which  had  been 
given  in  touching  all  the  charges  which  had  been  pre- 
ferred against  the  pastor. 

At  length  the  church  bell  rang,  as  a  signal  that  the 
council  were  prepared  to  communicate  the  result  of  their 
deliberations,  and  in  a  little  time  the  vestry  was  filled  with 
people.  The  moderator  remarked  that  the  council,  wish- 
ing to  act  fairly  and  impartially,  had  taken  time  to  go 
over  all  the  facts  in  the  case  and  to  examine  carefully  all 
the  testimony  which  had  been  offered.  For  this  reason,, 
their  session  in  private  had  been  protracted.  He  was 
happy  to  state  that  the  council  had  been  harmonious  in 
their  views,  and  had  unanimously  come  to  the  result  which 
the  scribe  would  now  read. 


328  A  VOICE   FROM  THE   PARSONAGE. 

From  this  document  it  appeared  that  the  council,  in 
view  of  the  evidence  submitted,  took  the  same  view  of  the 
propriety  and  expediency  of  the  pastor's  visiting  his  people 
which  he  presented.  If  the  people  would  not  give  atten- 
tion to  conversation  on  the  subject  of  religion,  if  it  was 
manifest  that  they  resorted  to  any  measures  to  avoid  it, 
they  had  no  right  to  expect  of  their  minister  that  he 
would  consume  his  time  in  mere  social  visitation.  In 
respect  to  his  not  fulfilling  his  pecuniary  engagements,  the 
council  could  not  see  how  it  was  possible  for  him  so  to  do 
when  his  people  were  so  remiss  in  paying  him  what  was 
his  due.  Had  they  promptly  fulfilled  their  obligations  to 
him,  and  he  had  been  backward  in  discharging  his  own 
liabilities  to  any  of  his  people,  there  would  have  been 
ground  of  severe  censure.  Before  a  pastor  can  pay  out  his 
people  must  pay  in  to  him  ;  and  it  is  unreasonable  and  un- 
righteous for  them  to  complain,  as  they  were  aware  that 
he  was  not  in  the  receipt  of  his  salary.  In  relation  to  any 
failure  on  the  part  of  the  pastor  in  his  pulpit  performances, 
the  council,  from  the  testimony  given  and  from  the  exam- 
ination of  the  discourses  submitted  to  them,  are  happy  to 
feel  that  the  pastor  has  been  advancing  both  in  literary 
merit  and  theological  knowledge  and  ability  to  preach. 
Of  the  allegation  that  the  pastor's  usefulness  to  his  people 
is  at  an  end,  the  council  are  pained  to  acknowledge  that 
in  their  opinion  such  is  the  fact.  They  feel,  however,  that 
this  usefulness  has  been  destroyed  by  reason  of  the  efforts 
of  some  of  his  people.  From  the  testimony  brought  for- 
ward, it  is  evident  that  one  individual  began  this  work  of 
destruction  when  goaded  up  by  a  guilty  conscience  under  the 
faithful  preaching  of  the  pastor,  and  that  this  individual, 
through  his  position  in  society  and  his  relations  to  many 
of  the  people,  was  successful  in  making  instruments  for  the 
furtherance  of  his  own  evil  designs  of  some  who  ought  to 
have  been  the  pastor's  mos^  zealous  supporters  and  friends. 


CALL  TO  ANOTHER  COUNCIL.  829 

The  way  in  which  the  pastor's  influence  and  usefulness  is 
at  an  end  here  would  destroy  the  usefulness  of  every  pastor 
in  the  land.  No  minister  could  stand  before  the  attempts 
which  have  here  been  made  to  destroy  him  ;  and  the  council 
cannot  refrain  from  expressing  their  most  decided  con- 
demnation of  the  artifice  of  some,  and  servility  of  others, 
by  which  difficulties  here  have  been  created  and  continued. 
The  council  would  exhort  those  who  have  been,  by  decep- 
tion or  through  fear,  induced  to  take  up  weapons  against 
a  beloved  and  worthy  minister  of  Christ,  to  pause  and 
reflect  upon  the  sinfulness  of  their  conduct,  and  repent. 
The  council  are  of  the  opinion  that  the  pastor  can  no 
longer  be  useful  among  his  present  people  unless  there  is  a 
manifest  change  of  feeling  on  the  part  of  those  through 
whose  instrumentality  his  usefulness  has  been  destroyed ; 
and,  therefore,  they  recommend  that  his  pastoral  relation 
be  dissolved. 

After  the  result  had  been  read  the  council  adjourned 
and  the  members  dispersed  to  their  respective  homes. 

Whilst  Mr.  Eldridge,  and  his  delegate,  Dr.  Howard,  were 
riding  towards  their  home,  considerable  conversation  was 
had  in  relation  to  the  matters  which  had  occupied  their 
attention  whilst  they  were  present  in  council.  Whilst  thus 
conversing,  the  doctor  remarked,  — 

"What  an  easy  thing  it  is  to  dismiss  a  minister!  Only 
let  one  or  two  individuals  of  any  standing  in  a  parish  set 
themselves  at  work,  and  they  will  succeed  in  dismissing 
any  minister  in  the  state." 

"There  is  much  truth  in  that  remark,"  Mr.  Eldridgo 
said.  "It  is  strange  people  will  be  led  away  as  they  are  ; 
that  they  will  lend  a  helping  hand  to  a  work  which  is  so 
often  productive  of  so  many  evils  as  the  dismission  of  a 
faithful  pastor  often  occasions  both  to  himself  and  family 
and  his  people  likewise." 

"  It  is  strange,"  the  doctor  said,  "  men  of  sense  do  not 
28* 


330  A  VOICE   PROM  THE   PARSONAGE. 

soe  such  evils  and  at  once  nip  all  attempts  made  to  encircle 
difficulties  around  a  minister.  It  might  be  done  if  people 
felt  as  they  ought." 

"  That  is  true,"  Mr.  Eldridge  remarked  ;  "  and,  before  we 
shall  have  a  permanent  ministry,  the  course  you  suggest 
will  have  to  be  pursued." 

"Well,"  said  the  doctor,  "one  thing  has  puzzled  me 
some  —  the  course  some  ministers  who  have  been  dis- 
missed and  who  remain  in  the  parish  pursue.  I  should 
think,  of  all  men,  they  would  be  the  last  to  do  any  thing  to 
make  the  situation  of  their  successor  uncomfortable.  Yet 
I  find  they  are  sometimes  foremost  in  making  a  disturb- 
ance. Now,  there  is  Mr.  Packard ;  he  must  leave  his 
people." 

"  Brother  Packard  a-going  to  leave  his  people !  "  Mr.  El- 
dridge exclaimed.  "  I  am  astonished." 

"  I  was  at  his  parish  last  week  visiting  some  patients, 
and  I  learned  that  he  was  going  away." 

"For  what?  "  Mr.  Eldridge  inquired. 

"  0,  there  is  trouble  there.  The  people,  some  of  them, 
think  he  might  be  more  useful  somewhere  else.  From  all 
that  I  could  gather,  I  made  up  my  mind  that  the  principal 
source  of  opposition  to  him  was  in  his  predecessor  and  his 
family." 

"  Oho !  that  cannot  be,"  Mr.  Eldridge  said.  "  The  old 
gentleman  is  a  man  who  would  not  be  guilty  of  doing  any 
thing  to  injure  Mr.  Packard." 

"  I  do  not  know  ;  but  some  of  the  people  told  me  that  he 
and  his  children  were  thought  to  be  opposed  to  Mr. 
Packard.  They  were  very  intimate  with  a  few  who  are 
openly  opposed  to  him." 

"  Well,  I  do  not  know  but  that  it  is  so,"  Mr.  Eldridge 
said  ;  "  it  may  be.  I  remember  now  hearing  brother  Pack- 
ard say  that  Mr.  Worcester  was  not  very  attentive  to  him, 
and  that  his  family  were  rather  cold  and  distant.  But  I 


CALL  TO  ANOTHER  COUNCIL.  331 

thought  nothing  more  of  it.  Ho  said  this  two  or  three 
years  ago." 

"The  people  there  say,"  the  doctor  remarked,  "that 
Mr.  Worcester  and  his  children  want  to  have  Mr.  Packard 
turned  away  because  they  dismissed  Mr.  Worcester." 

"  0, 1  cannot  think  that  such  is  the  feeling  of  Mr.  Worces- 
ter and  his  children,"  Mr.  Eldridge  said.  "  Mr.  Packard 
always  speaks  highly  of  Mr.  Worcester,  and  I  have  noticed 
that  they  frequently  come  together  to  the  meetings  of  our 
association." 

"  Well,"  said  the  doctor,  "  I  believe  that,  if  Mr.  Worcester 
and  family  had  not  exerted  a  secret  influence  against  Mr. 
Packard,  there  would  not  have  been  any  very  serious 
trouble  in  his  parish.  I  form  my  opinion  of  what  some  of 
the  best  people  there  say  ;  and  I  think  it  very  strange, 
after  the  treatment  which  Mr.  Worcester  received,  that  he 
and  his  children  should  do  what  they  all  condemned  so 
freely  in  others." 

It  was  not  long  after  this  conversation  before  Mr.  El- 
dridge and  Mr.  Packard  met.  The  latter  was  about  being 
dismissed,  and  he  fully  admitted  to  Mr.  Eldridge  that  a 
great  cause  of  the  trouble  with  him  was  in  the  course  pur- 
sued among  a  certain  portion  of  the  people  by  his  predecessor 
and  children. 


CHAPTER    XXIX. 

THE   OTHER  STOEE. 

AROUND  the  meeting  house  of  Mr.  Eldridge  much  of  a 
village  existed.  From  the  taste  displayed  in  the  location 
of  the  houses,  in  the  construction  of  the  fences,  and  in  the 
multiplication  of  shade  trees  and  shrubbery  of  different 
variety,  the  village  had  acquired  much  celebrity  in  the 
region  for  its  beauty  and  loveliness.  There  had  ever  been 
one  store  by  the  meeting  house,  filled  with  every  variety 
of  merchandise  that  was  necessary  for  the  supply  of  the 
wants  of  the  community.  For  many  years  this  store  had 
been  in  the  occupancy  of  Squire  Davidson,  in  whose  fair 
and  honorable  dealing  all  had  the  fullest  confidence.  As 
he  grew  rich  by  trade,  another  individual  thought  that  he 
would  attempt  the  making  of  a  fortune  in  the  same  way. 
Consequently,  he  built  and  furnished  a  store  about  two 
years  before  the  settlement  of  Mr.  Eldridge;  but,  not 
being  of  a  commercial  mould,  instead  of  making,  he  lost 
money  by  the  transaction,  and  gave  up  the  business.  For 
several  years  the  store  remained  closed.  It  was,  however, 
opened  again  by  a  young  man  of  enterprise  and  piety 
when  Mr.  Eldridge  was  in  the  seventh  year  of  his  pastor- 
ate ;  and  it  yielded  to  its  proprietor  a  handsome  profit, 
though  by  no  means  equal  to  that  which  Squire  Davidson 
received.  Such  profits  as  his  were  not  expected  ;  for  the 
business  transacted  was  not  near  as  large  as  that  prose- 

(332) 


THE   OTHER  STORE.  333 

cuted  by  the  squire.  Between  the  occupant  of  this  store 
(Mr.  Fowler)  and  Mr.  Eldridge  there  was  ever  the  utmost 
kindness  of  feeling,  and  no  exceptions  whatever  were 
taken  to  the  pastor's  trading  with  Squire  Davidson. 
"When  Mr.  Eldridge  had  been  settled  about  sixteen  years, 
Mr.  Fowler  was  taken  suddenly  away,  and,  in  the  settle- 
ment of  his  estate,  it  became  necessary  to  sell  the  store. 
Colonel  Presbury  was  the  purchaser.  It  was  soon  re- 
opened by  a  gentleman  with  the  name  of  Dixon,  who  had 
much  of  the  spirit  of  trade  and  was  anxious  for  all  that 
lie  could  command.  As  a  matter  of  course  he  was  an  at- 
tendant on  the  preaching  of  Mr.  Eldridge,  and  was  often 
heard  to  say  pretty  things  of  the  minister,  especially  wheu 
he  thought  they  would  reach  the  pastor's  ears. 

A  store  in  the  country  has  frequently  many  visitors  in 
the  evening.  Some  individuals,  being  busy  all  the  'day, 
find  it  most  for  their  convenience  to  purchase  their  little 
articles  of  every-day  consumption  in  the  evening ;  and 
other  individuals  are  in  the  habit  of  making  such  a  place 
their  resort  for  the  purpose  of  .hearing  the  current  news. 
Boys,  too,  often  happen  in,  to  gratify  an  idle  curiosity  or 
to  make  some  little  purchases.  Mr.  Dixon  had  been  in 
business  a  little  more  than  a  year,  when  a  son  of  Mr.  Clay, 
accompanied  by  a  nephew  of  Mr.  Eldridge,  who  had  been 
in-  town  but  a  few  years,  entered  the  store  in  the  evening. 
They  were  passing  along,  and  seeing  a  number  of  people 
therein,  and  hearing  loud  laughing  and  merriment,  it  was 
natural  for  them  to  stop  and  see  what  was  going  on.  So 
many  being  together,  they  were  probably  unobserved,  or, 
if  observed  by  some  near  the  door,  they  could  not  have 
been  seen  farther  along,  where  the  scene  of  conversation 
was.  They  had  not  been  there  long  before  they  heard 
Mr.  Dixon  remark, — 

"  Well,  I  can't  get  over  it  that  Mr.  Eldridge  does  all 
his  trading  over  at  the  squire's." 


334  A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

"Don't  you  know  the  reason  of  this?"  a  good-natured 
gentleman,  Mr.  Crane,  inquired. 

"  Yes,  I  suppose  I  do,"  Mr.  Dixon  said.  "  The  squire 
is  a  great  man  among  us,  and  Mr.  Eldridge  thinks  he  must 
keep  the  right  side  of  him,  or  else  he'll  have  trouble." 

"  You  are  greatly  mistaken,  friend  Dixon,  if  you  sup- 
pose that  is  the  reason.  It  is  no  such  thing.  The  squire, 
I  am  told,  always  sells  Mr.  Eldridge  his  goods  at  cost, 
and,  when  he  settles  his  bill,  always  makes  him  a  hand- 
some discount."  ' 

"  Yes,"  said  Mr.  Billings  ;  "  that  is  a  fact,  I  believe.  I 
always  understood  it  so.  Mr.  Fowler  used  to  say  that 
was  the  case,  and  he  said  he  did  not  blame  Mr.  Eldridge 
in  the  least.  The  squire  was  able  to  be  liberal,  he  said  ; 
and,  for  his  part,  he  was  glad  that  he  showed  the  minister 
so  great  a  favor." 

"  I  should  think,"  Mr.  Otis  said,  "  as  long  as  Mr.  Dixon. 
has  just  begun  here,  that  Mr.  Eldridge  ought  to  buy  some 
of  his  things  of  him,  just  to  encourage  him.  You  know  it 
would  have  influence  on  others ;  for  many  people  would 
be  influenced  to  do  their  trading  here  if  the  parson  pat- 
ronized the  store." 

"  Yes,"  said  Mr.  Dixon  ;  "  that  is  it.  I  dare  say  the 
squire  gets  custom  by  being  generous  to  the  minister. 
He  gets  good  pay  for  all  that  he  sells  Mr.  Eldridge,  I'll 
be  bound." 

"  0,"  Mr.  Crane  said,  "  it  don't  make  a  cent's  difference 
in  the  business  of  Mr.  Davidson  by  having  the  custom  of 
Mr.  Eldridge.  He  would  sell  just  as  much  if  Mr.  Eldridge 
bought  all  his  goods  out  of  town.  The  squire  keeps  a 
great  store,  has  been  in  business  a  great  while,  and  people 
like  to  trade  there  ;  and  they  would  trade  there  as  much 
as  they  do  now  if  Mr.  Eldridge  did  not  buy  any  thing  of 
him." 

"  Well,  I  don't  like  it,"  Mr.  Dixon  said,  "  not  to  have 


THE  OTHER  STORE.  335 

the  minister  trade  here  some.  I  would  do  well  by  him. 
I  could  not  afford  to  sell  exactly  at  cost ;  but  then  I  would 
give  him  good  bargains." 

"If  I  were  in  your  place,"  Mr.  Crane  observed,  "I 
would  not  say  any  thing  about  not  having  the  patronage 
of  Mr.  Eldridge.  He  has  a  good  many  friends  here,  you 
know  ;  and  you  might  be  injured  yourself  through  their 
influence,  if  they  should  know  you  said  hard  things  of  the 
minister." 

"  I  don't  know  about  that,"  Mr.  Dixon  said.  "  I  think 
a  minister  ought  to  patronize  all  who  hear  him  preach, 
and  I  find  others  think  so  too.  There  is  the  colonel ;  he 
was  in  here  the  other  day  talking  about  it,  and  he  said 
that  Mr;  Eldridge  did  wrong  in  not  trading  with  me  some. 
I  rather  think,  if  the  parson  don't  trade  here,  he'll  wish  he 
had." 

Mr.  Dixon's  attention  being  directed  towards  one  or 
two  customers  who  addressed  him  with  considerable  im- 
patience at  the  delay  he  caused  them  in  being  thus  en- 
grossed in  conversation,  he  at  once  dropped  the  subject 
and  proceeded  to  wait  upon  them.  The  son  of  Mr.  Clay 
thereupon  left  the  store  and  returned  home  highly  excited, 
and  related  to  his  parents  what  he  had  heard. 

"  Is  it  possible."  his  mother  said,  "  that  Mr.  Dixon  would 
allow  himself  to  talk  in  this  manner  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  Mr.  Clay  remarked  ;  "  I  should  expect  that  he 
would  feel  and  talk  pretty  much  as  Thomas  says.  He  is 
a  man  of  a  very  nervous  temperament,  I  should  judge  by 
what  little  I  have  seen  of  him,  and  not  of  very  enlarged 
views,  and  with  a  strong  passion  for  gain.  I  am  not  at 
all  astonished  that  he  should  express  himself  as  he  has." 

"  He  may  be  of  great  injury  to  Mr.  Eldridge,"  Mrs.  Clay 
observed.  "  He  probably  has  acquired  a  strong  prejudice 
against  Mr.  Eldridge ;  and,  by  his  talking  as  he  did  this 
evening,  we  must  infer  that  he  is  in  the  habit  of  speaking 
to  his  disadvantage." 


336         -A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

"Yes,"  Mr.  Clay  said;  "Mr.  Dixon  will  undoubtedly 
endeavor  to  prejudice  people  against  our  pastor,  and  un- 
doubtedly he  will  succeed  to  some  extent.  It  is  very  un- 
fortunate that  he  is  not  such  a  man  as  Mr.  Fowler — a 
man  who  is  capable  of  taking  a  right  view  of  a  thing,  and 
not  entirely  bound  up  in  self-interest." 

"Mr.  Fowler  never  took  any  exceptions  to  Mr.  El- 
dridge's  trading  with  Squire  Davidson,  did  he,  dear?" 

"  No,  not  he,"  Mr.  Clay  replied.  "  I  have  heard  him 
speak  on  the  subject  again  and  again ;  and  he  uniformly 
expressed  himself  happy  that  it  was  in  the  power  of  the 
squire  to  treat  Mr.  Eldridge  with  so  much  generosity, 
and  at  the  same  time  regretted  that  his  circumstances  did 
not  allow  him  to  do  as  much.  He  said  that  he  should  do 
as  Mr.  Eldridge  did  were  he  in  his  situation." 

"  Mr.  Fowler  was  a  lovely  man,"  Mrs.  Clay  remarked  ; 
"  and  it  is  a  great  pity  that  one  so  unlike  him  should  take 
his  place  in  the  store." 

"  Well,"  Mr.  Clay  said,  rising  from  his  chair  and  begin- 
ning to  pace  the  floor,  "  I  am  extremely  sorry  that  Mr. 
Dixon  ever  came  here,  if  this  is  the  way  he  is  going  to 
act.  He  will  exert  an  influence  that  will  be  very  much 
to  Mr.  Eldridge's  disadvantage,  I  am  afraid.  Of  course, 
as  he  keeps  a  store,  he  will  see  a  large  number  of  people, 
and  he  will  have  it  in  his  power  to  say  a  great  many 
things  against  Mr.  Eldridge,  which  will  be  believed,  and 
of  course  which  will  affect  the  feelings  of  the  people  hear- 
ing, and  sour  them  towards  the  minister.  Whenever  any 
persons  become  a  little  excited  by  any  thing  which  Mr. 
Eldridge  may  say  or  do,  they  will  have  a  place  to  go  for 
sympathy  ;  and  Mr.  Dixon's  store  will  be  a  sort  of  rendez- 
vous for  such  as  may  be  inclined  to  make  trouble  in  the 
parish.  I  dare  say  Mr.  Otis  and  Mr.  Andrews  have  found 
out  that  he  feels  sore,  and  that  they  are  in  his  store  pretty 
often  ;  and,  if  Mr.  Scott  were  alive,  he  would  be  there 
too." 


THE  OTHER  STORE.  337 

"Mr.  Otis  was  in  the  store  to-night,  father,"  Thomas  re- 
marked. 

"  There,  that's  it ! "  Mr.  Clay  said.  "  Was  not  Mr.  An- 
drews likewise  ?  " 

"  I  did  not  see  him,"  Thomas  replied. 

"  Yes,"  Mr.  Clay  said.  "  Such*  characters  as  Mr.  Otis 
and  Mr.  Andrews  will  be  in  there  almost  every  even- 
ing, and  they  will  talk  about  Mr.  Eldridge  and  set  all 
his  conduct  out  in  the  worst  possible  manner ;  and  un- 
doubtedly they  will  succeed  in  bringing  over  to  their  views 
and  feelings  quite  a  number  of  people  in  the  course  of  a 
little  time." 

"  0  husband,"  Mrs.  Clay  said,  "  if  people  find  out  that 
Mr.  Dixon  is  so  much  opposed  to  Mr.  Eldridge  they  will 
not  visit  his  store." 

"That  may  be  the  case  with  many  individuals,"  Mr. 
Clay  said,  —  "  with  such  individuals  as  act  from  principle, 
—  but,  you  know,  there  are  more  of  the  opposite  character 
in  the  world  than  such.  It  is  greatly  to  be  lamented  that, 
when  we  have  but  two  stores  in  town,  one  of  these  should 
be  kept  by  an  individual  like  this  Mr.  Dixou." 

"  There  is  the  tavern,"  Mrs.  Clay  said.  "  People  go  in 
there  and  talk;  and,  if  they  were  inclined  to  talk  against 
Mr.  Eldridge,  they  could  go  there  and  do  so." 

"  Indeed  they  could  not,  if  Mr.  Shipley  was  about,"  Mr. 
Clay  said.  "  He  would  have  no  such  men  in  his  house  as 
were  inclined  to  run  out  against  Mr.  ELdridge." 

"  Does  Mr.  Dixon  own  that  store,  husband,  or  does  he 
hire  it  of  Mrs.  Fowler  ?  "  Mrs.  Clay  inquired. 

"  The  store  was  sold  soon  after  Mr.  Fowler  died,"  Mr. 
Clay  remarked,  "  and  Colonel  Presbury  bought  it." 

"  Ah,  I  never  heard  of  that,"  Mrs.  Clay  said.  "  Then 
Colonel  Presbury  owns  the  store.  Well,  he  won't  object 
to  his  tenant's  course,  will  he,  husband  ?  " 

"  No,  not  in  the  least.  We  know  how  the  colonel  has 
29 


338  A   VOICE   FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

felt  towards  Mr.  Eldridge  ever  since  he  had  to  pay  one 
hundred  and  sixty  dollars  for  removing  that  old  parish 
debt.  I  dare  say  Mr.  Dixon  has  discovered  how  the  colo- 
nel feels,  and  that  he  is  emboldened  by  him  in  the  course 
he  is  pursuing.  It  may  be  Mr.  Dixon  acts  according  to 
instructions  from  the  colonel." 

"  Yes,"  Thomas  said.  "  Mr.  Dixon  told  Mr.  Crane  this 
evening  that  the  colonel  said  Mr.  Eldridge  ought  to  do  a 
part  of  his  trading  at  his  store,  and  that  he  did  not  like  it 
at  all  that  he  did  not." 

"Mr.  Dixon  said  this,  Thomas,  did  he?"  Mr.  Clay 
asked.  "There  is  no  doubt,  then,  that  the  colonel  en- 
courages Mr.  Dixon.  I  should  not  be  surprised  if  it  was 
a  plan  of  the  colonel  to  purchase  that  store  and  have  it 
occupied  by  a  man  whom  he  could  use  as  an  instrument  to 
disturb  Mr.  Eldridge.  It  certainly  looks  like  it." 

"Yes  ;  I  think  it  does,"  Mrs.  Clay  said  ;  "but  then  the 
colonel  cannot  expect  to  harm  Mr.  Eldridge  very  serious- 
ly. He  knows  how  attached  the  people  are  to  their  minis- 
ter, and  that  any  opposition  of  a  few  could  not  essentially 
injure  him." 

"  I  don't  know  about  that,"  Mr.  Clay  replied.  "  A  con- 
tinual dropping  wears  the  stone.  Colonel  Presbury  is  a 
man  of  property,  and,  if  he  really  is  determined  to  exert 
himself  against  Mr.  Eldridge,  he  can  do  him  much  harm. 
Mr.  Dixon's  store  will  be  t/ie  place,  I  am  persuaded,  where 
great  mischief  will  be  done." 

"  Colonel  Presbury  has  not  more  property  than  Squire 
Davidson  and  some  others  here  who  are  friendly  to  Mr. 
Eldridge.  Deacon  Smith  is  as  wealthy  as  the  colonel," 
Mrs.  Clay  said.  "  These  persons  can  outdo  the  colonel  if 
influence  is  to  be  measured  by  property  ;  and  so  there 
will  not  be  much  for  Mr.  Eldridge  really  to  fear. 
There  is  no  man  in  town  who  has  the  influence  which 
the  squire  has." 


THE   OTHER  STORE.  339 

"  The  squire  is  growing  old,  you  know,  and  his  health  is 
failing,  and  he  cannot  be  expected  to  remain  with  us  long," 
Mr.  Clay  remarked. 

"  I  know  that,  my  dear,"  Mrs.  Clay  replied  ;  "  but  then 
if  his  son  Charles  moves  on,  as  he  probably  will  in  the 
spring,  he  will  take  his  father's  place,  I  dare  say.  You 
know  he  is  a  great  friend  to  Mr.  Eldridge,  and  he  would, 
on  his  own,  and  on  his  mother  and  father's  account,  exert 
himself  with  all  his  might  to  prevent  any  injury  being 
done  Mr.  Eldridge  by  Mr.  Dixon  or  the  colonel." 

"  That  is  all  true,"  Mr.  Clay  said  ;  "  but  perhaps  he  will 
not  come  on  ;  his  wife,  I  thought,  was  opposed  to  it ;  and, 
if  he  should,  he  could  not  exert  the  influence  his  father 
has  exerted." 

"  He  will  come  on  in  the  spring,  I  know,"  Mrs.  Clay 
said.  "  When  Frances  (Mrs.  Howard)  called  here  yester- 
day she  told  me  that  Charles's  wife  had  altered  her  feel- 
ings, and  that  she  thought  they  ought  to  move  on,  as  the 
squire  wishes  them  to  do  so  much." 

"  Well,  that  will  be  a  grand  thing  for  the  parish  if 
Charles  should  take  up  his  residence  here,"  Mr.  Clay  said. 
"  He  is  thought  much  of  by  many  people  here,  and  he  is  a 
man  of  energy  and  decision,  very  much  like  his  father." 

A  man  in  the  employ 'of  Mr.  Clay  entered  the  room  and 
announced  that  an  accident  had  happened  at  the  barn, 
which  of  course  suspended  further  conversation.  The 
reader,  however,  will  know  more  of  the  other  store  by 
aud  by. 


CHAPTER    XXX. 

REPAIRING  THE   CHURCH. 

WHATEVER  might  have  been  attempted  at  "  the  other 
store "  or  in  any  other  quarter  for  two  or  three  years 
after  Mr.  Dixon  commenced  business  for  creating  a  dis- 
turbance in  the  prospects  of  Mr.  Eldridge,  yet  no  prog- 
ress was  reported  which  reached  the  general  circles  of  the 
parish.  The  pastor  preached  his  eighteenth  anniversary 
discourse,  feeling  that  his  hold  on  the  affections  of  his 
people  was  as  strong  as  at  any  past  period  of  his  minis- 
try. In  the  course  of  this  sermon  allusion  was  made  to  a 
variety  of  local  matters  touching  the  prosperity  of  both 
church  and  parish,  and  a  gentle  hint  was  given  that  it 
might  bs  well  for  the  people  to  consider  that  both  age 
and  fashion  had  given  to  the  sanctuary  of  their  fathers 
and  their  own  somewhat  of  a  peculiar  appearance,  which 
might  be  remedied  by  the  application  of  some  of  the  im- 
proved forms  of  church  architecture.  If  other  parts  of  the 
sermon  failed  to  lodge  in  the  minds  and  hearts  of  his  hear- 
ers, certain  it  was  that  this  hint  was  remembered.  It  was 
the  very  thing  which  the  younger  part  of  the  parish  had 
long  wanted  to  be  sounded  from  the  pulpit ;  for  they 
thought  the  fathers  would  hear  it  and  be  excited  to  move 
in  the  matter  of  making  their  house  of  worship  more  con- 
venient, more  attractive,  and  more  in  conformity  to  church- 
es which  had  recently  been  erected.  There  was  nothing 

(340) 


REPAIRING  THE   CHURCH.  34'1 

about  thiii  church  which  denoted  neglect.  It  had  been 
well  cared  for.  Both  the  carpenter  and  the  painter  had 
been  there  as  often  as  their  services  were  in  the  least 
needed  ;  but  it  had  the  disadvantage  of  age.  It  had 
stood  thirty-five  years.  The  pulpit  was  high,  the  galleries 
were  high,  the  slips  were  high  and  roomy  ;  and,  besides, 
there  had  never  been  heard  within  its  walls  the  sound 
of  the  organ.  If  the  old  folks  had  not  observed  all  these 
things  and  mourned  over  them,  the  young  people  had  ;  and 
it  was  a  cause  of  great  rejoicing  to  them  when  their  pastor 
gently  hinted  that  the  advancement  which  had  recently 
been  made  in  the  art  of  architecture  might  do  much  to- 
wards the  improvement  of  their  own  sanctuary. 

As  might  be  expected,  a  new  subject  began  to  be  agi- 
tated in  all  the  circles  of  the  parish ;  and,  because  there  were 
advocates  of  the  measure  in  almost  every  house,  it  became 
absolutely  indispensable  to  parochial  quietude  that  it  should 
receive  some  official  notice.  It  had  been  suggested  that 
the  expense  attendant  on  the  repairing  of  the  church  could 
be  met  by  subscription,  and  thus  it  would  throw  no  burden 
on  unwilling  shoulders ;  but  as  the  meeting  house  was 
parish  property,  and  as  every  thing  pertaining  to  eccle- 
siastical expenditures  had  from  time  immemorial  in  that 
parish  been  settled  from  the  parish  treasury,  such  a  sugges- 
tion did  not  meet  with  very  popular  favor.  It  was  urged  by 
some  few  who  were  apprised  of  the  effect  which  the  parish 
tax  for  the  liquidation  of  the  old  parish  debt  had  upon 
a  certain  individual,  that,  as  the  sore  had  not  yet  healed 
over,  it  might  be  politic  not  to  make  a  tax  for  the  object, ' 
but  to  have  the  expense  borne  by  those  who  were  disposed 
to  contribute  ;  but  the  people  generally  were  too  demo- 
cratic, and  at  last  it  was  given  over  in  private  where  the 
matter  had  thus  far  been  only  discussed,  and  it  was 
thought  that,  if  the  church  was  to  be  repaired,  it  must  be 
done  at  the  parish  expense. 
29  * 


342  A   VOICE   FROM   THE   PARSONAGE. 

A  parish  meeting  was  at  length  called  for  the  consider- 
ation of  this  matter,  and  the  attendance  was  large.  The  first 
question  which  came  up  was  upon  the  necessity  of  repairing 
the  house.  Upon  this  there  was  considerable  debate. 
Some  thought  the  house  was  well  enough  as  it  was. 
Some  thought  it  might  be  well  to  make  the  pews  a  little 
narrower,  for  it  would  increase  their  number,  and  more 
were  wanted  ;  but  the  greater  number  who  participated  in 
the  debate  went  for  a  thorough  repair  and  remodelling  of 
the  house.  At  last  the  motion  was  made  to  remodel  the 
house,  and  to  furnish  it  with  an  organ  which  should  not 
cost  more  than  eighteen  hundred  dollars.  The  expense  of 
remodelling  the  house  had  been  set  at  about  seven  hundred 
dollars  ;  and  it  was  thought  that  twenty-five  hundred  would 
do  the  whole. 

Hitherto  the  debate  had  been  on  the  article  in  the  war- 
rant to  see  if  the  parish  will  repair  the  meeting  house  and 
furnish  it  with  an  organ.  Now  the  question  came  a  little 
closer  to  the  pockets,  and  of  course  a  little  nearer  the 
hearts,  of  certain  individuals  at  least.  After  this  motion 
was  made,  Colonel  Presbury  had  the  floor  first.  He  had 
no  objection  to  remodelling  the  church  and  having  it 
furnished  with  an  organ.  He  was  in  favor  of  the  project, 
provided  it  could  be  accomplished  in  a  proper  manner. 
He  had  no  doubt  money  enough  could  be  raised,  and  it 
was  his  opinion  that  it  would  be  best  for  the  parish  to 
have  a  subscription  taken  for  the  object  rather  than  make 
a  tax.  He  was  ready  to  subscribe  liberally,  and  he  had  no 
doubt  that  every  member  of  the  parish  would  do  the  same  ; 
and  if  all  had  the  privilege  of  giving  what  they  pleased, 
there  would  be  no  cause  for  trouble.  Besides,  he  said, 
there  were  many-  who  attended  meeting  here  who  did  not 
belong  to  the  parish,  and  these  would  put  down  something ; 
whereas,  if  a  tax  were  made,  we  should  lose  this  amount. 

Mr.  Crane,  a  gentleman  of  a  very  peaceable  turn  of 


REPAIRING  THE   CHURCH.  343 

mind,  and  wished  every  individual  accommodated,  next 
rose,  and  remarked,  "that  he  cared  not  how  the  repairs 
were  effected,  whether  by  tax  or  subscription.  He  was 
for  having  people  satisfied.  As  the  colonel  was  a  man  of 
considerable  property,  he  thought  it  might  be  well  to  hear 
him,  and  have  a  subscription  paper  opened,  assenting  to 
his  suggestion, 

Mr.  Otis,  who  always  preferred  subscription  papers  to 
taxes,  because  he  could  get  off  with  less  money,  and  fre- 
quently with  no  money  at  all,  by  being  opposed  to  the  ob- 
ject subscribed  for,  was  in  favor  of  the  colonel's  plan,  and 
hoped  it  would  be  adopted. 

Several  others  advocated  it  with  much  energy  ;  but  then 
there  were  those  who  strongly  opposed  it.  Squire  Davidson, 
though  in  feeble  health,  rallied  himself  and  made  a  long 
speech  in  favor  of  having  the  house  repaired  by  a  tax.  So 
did  his  son,  who  had  taken  up  his  abode  in  the  parish, 
having  removed  from  the  south  a  year  and  a  half  before. 
Deacon  Smith,  Mr.  Clay,  Dr.  Howard,  all  advocated  a  tax  ; 
and  when  the  vote  was  taken  sixty-three  were  in  favor  of  a 
tax  and  eleven  opposed ;  so  the  house  was  to  be  remodelled 
and  furnished  with  an  organ  at  the  expense  of  the  parish. 

After  the  declaration  of  the  vote,  some  who  understood 
the  colonel's  physiognomy  saw,  as  they  thought,  some  fore- 
shadowings  of  trouble  expressed  therein.  However,  they 
kept  their  own  secrets,  and  whispered  not  abroad  what 
they  surmised,  but  kept  an  eye  out  in  watch  after  his 
movements.  Mr.  Clay  thought  there  would  be  some  ex- 
plosion that  evening  at  Mr.  Dixon's  store ;  and  so  he  made 
some  errand  for  his  hired  man,  who  was  of  an  intelligent 
cast,  and  sent  him  down  to  perform  it.  As  he  was  going 
out  of  the  yard  Mr.  Clay  called  to  him  and  said,  — 

"  John,  perJiaps  there  will  be  something  said  at  the 
store  about  the  parish  meeting  this  afternoon.  If  there 
should  be  you  can  stay  a  whik  and  hear,  and  let  me  know." 


344  A   VOICE    FROM   THE   PARSONAGE. 

John  went  on,  and  when  he  arrived  at  the  store  he  found 
that  there  were  quite  a  number  of  people  there ;  and  as 
he  went  in  he  heard  much  loud  talking  and  saw  some  angry 
faces,  which  led  him  to  conclude  some  unpleasant  subject 
was  being  discussed.  He  soon  heard  some  one  say,  who 
he  did  not  know, — 

"  Well,  I  think  this  business  will  finish  him  up  in  these 
parts." 

"  Yes,"  Mr.  Dixon  said,  "  I  think  it  will ;  that's  a  fact. 
A  minister  had  better  let  alone  what  don't  concern  him. 
As  for  putting  up  the  people  to  lay  out  two  or  three  thou- 
sand dollars  on  the  meeting  house  he  preaches  in,  just  to 
make  it  look  grand,  he'll  find  is  rather  poor  business." 

"  Have  I  not  said  once  or  twice  here  this  evening,"  Mr. 
Parker  remarked,  "  that  it  was  a  minister's  duty  to  urge 
his  people  to  do  what  he  thought  would  be  for  their  pres- 
ent and  future  good  ?  Mr.  Eldridge  has  not  made  the 
people  repair  the  meeting  house.  They  voted  to  do  this 
because  they  thought  they  had  a  right  to  do  as  they 
pleased.  If  they  had  taken  no  notice  of  what  he  said  in 
his  sermon  he  would  not  have  thought  it  strange.  He 
merely  touched  them  up  a  little  about  the  meeting  house, 
and  they  took  the  hint,  and  have  voted  to  do  something 
handsome  for  the  church.  I  think  this  blaming  the  minis- 
ter for  what  the  parish  does  is  rather  unreasonable  and 
very  silly." 

"  It  is  bad  that  they  are  going  to  make  a  tax  for  this 
business,"  Colonel  Presbury  said.  "  I  am  afraid  it  will 
make  bad  business.  The  whole  thing  might  be  done  by 
subscription,  and  theri  there  would  be  no  hard  feelings." 

"  You  don't  know  that,  colonel,"  Mr.  Parker  said.  "  It 
seems  there  were  only  eleven  who  were  opposed  to  a  tax 
and  sixty-three  in  favor  of  one.  You  are  not  sure  that 
there  would  not  have  been  very  hard  feelings  in  some  of 
these  sixty-three  if  they  could  not  have  had  a  tax.  \Ve 
must  let  the  majority  govern  in  this  country." 


REPAIRING  THE  CHURCH.  345 

"  Well,  I  insist  upon  it,  this  taxing  people  to  pay  parish 
expenses  is  not  politic,"  the  colonel  said. 

"  Our  people  here  don't  think  so/'  Mr.  Parker  said. 
"  We  have  always  done  this,  you  know  ;  and  there  are 
not  many  parishes  about  who  have  less  trouble  than 
ours." 

"I  know  we  have  got  along  tolerably  well,"  the  colonel 
said  ;  "  but  I  am  afraid  we  sha'n't  much  longer." 

"  What  is  going  to  happen,  colonel  ? "  Mr.  Parker 
asked. 

"  0, 1  do  not  know  that  any  thing  will  ;  but  perhaps, 
if  you  and  I  both  live  a  few  years  longer,  we  may  see." 

"  You  don't  mean  to  sign  off,  colonel,  do  you  ?  "  Mr. 
Parker  inquired. 

u  Sign  off!  No,  indeed  1 "  the  colonel  replied,  with  much 
feeling  ;  "  that  is  not  my  way.  I  have  belonged  to  the 
parish  ever  since  I  was  one  and  twenty,  and  my  father 
before  me  always  was  a  member  of  the  parish  ;  and  I 
rather  think  I  shall  stick  by  it  as  long  as  I  live." 

"  I  am  glad  to  hear  you  talk  so,"  Mr.  Parker  said.  "  We 
should  be  sorry  to  lose  you,  colonel." 

After  this  manner  did  conversation  run  for  an  hour  or 
more  ;  and  John,  thinking  he  understood  the  drift  of  the 
discussion,  took  up  his  bundle  which  he  had  purchased 
and  proceeded  homeward.  Entering  the  room  where  Mr. 
Clay  was,  and  giving  up  his  purchase,  he  turned  to  go  out, 
when  Mr.  Clay  said,  — 

"  Well,  John,  were  there  many  at  the  store  to-night  ?  " 

"  Pretty  good  number  of  youngsters  there,"  John  said, 
"  but  not  more  than  six  or  seven  men." 

"  Well,  what  was  the  topic  to-night  ?  " 

"  They  were  talking  about  fixing  the  meeting  house," 
John  said. 

"  Well,  what  did  they  say  ?  " 

John  then  went  on  and  narrated  what  he  could  remem 


346  A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

ber,  much  of  which  conversation  has  been  given  above, 
and  then  left  the  room. 

"  I  knew,"  Mr.  Clay  observed  to  his  wife,  "  there  would 
be  some  sparring  at  Dixon's  to-night,  and  I  made  an  er- 
rand and  sent  John  down.  He  understands." 

"  I  could  not  think  what  your  object  was  in  sending  after 
nails  to-night,"  Mrs.  Clay  replied,  "  when  you  sent  by  me 
this  afternoon  to  the  squire's  after  them,  and  I  brought 
home  ten  pounds." 

"  0,  nails  always  come  right.  I  could  not  think  of  any 
thing  else  we  wanted  ;  and  so  I  told  John  he  might  get 
on  to  Jerry  and  go  to  Dixon's  to  get  a  couple  of  pounds 
of  board  nails,  and  that  he  might  stay  a  while  if  there 
should  be  any  excitable  conversation  going  on." 

"I  suppose  you  consider  yourself  paid  by  the  report 
John  has  brought  back?  "Mrs.  Clay  said. 

"  I  am  not  at  all  disappointed  at  hearing  what  he  says. 
I  knew  the  colonel  was  sore,  and  I  expected  to  hear  from 
him  through  Dixon  and  his  tribe." 

"  I  suppose,"  Mrs.  Clay  said,  "  we  must  expect  to  have 
trouble ;  but  I  hope  it  will  not  be  very  disastrous.  I 
have  strong  confidence  in  the  good  sense  of  our  people 
and  in  the  strength  of  their  attachment  to  Mr.  Eldridge. 
It  is  not  uncommon,  we  know,  for  a  few  people  to  be  un- 
easy in  a  parish  and  for  such  to  attempt  to  make  disturb- 
ance. We  have  been  as  much  blessed  in  having  as  little 
of  this  kind  of  trouble  as  almost  any  other  parish  with 
which  I  am  acquainted." 

"I  hope  we  shall  get  along  with  this  business  better 
than  I  fear,"  Mr.  Clay  said.  "  I  feel  that  Mr.  Presbury  is 
very  much  excited  about  this  tax,  and  that  he  will  in  some 
way  or  other  make  all  the  trouble  which  he  can.  That  he 
will  have  influence  over  many  there  can  be  no  doubt  ; 
and  if  he  be  not  reconciled  in  some  way  he  will  un- 
doubtedly exert  all  his  influence,-!  fear,  to  displace  Mr. 
Eldridge." 


REPAIRING   THE   CHURCH.  347 

"  I  suppose,"  Mrs.  Clay  remarked,  "  he  will  attempt  to 
vent  his  feelings  in  that  way  ;  but  it  will  be  very  wicked 
in  him  to  do  this.  Mr.  Eldridge  is  not  to  blame  for  what 
ithe  parish  does." 

"  No,  not  in  the  least.  But  the  colonel  reasons  that,  if 
Mr.  Eldridge  had  not  moved  in  the  matter  of  paying  that 
old  parish  debt,  it  would  not  have  been  paid,  and  so  he 
would  not  have  been  taxed  ;  and  that,  if  Mr.  Eldridge  had 
not  brought  up  the  subject  of  repairing  the  meeting  house, 
the  people  would  not  have  thought  of  so  doing.  He  thus 
blames  Mr.  Eldridge  for  being  the  cause  of  these  two 
things,  which  take  from  him  considerable  money  ;  and  so, 
I  fear,  he  means  to  punish  Mr.  Eldridge  and  others  by 
making  a  strong  move  to  have  him  dismissed." 

"  0,  well,  if  the  people  stand  firm,  I  do  not  think  he 
will  be  able  to  accomplish  much,"  said  Mrs.  Clay. 

"  Of  course  he  will  not,"  Mr.  Clay  said  ;  "  but  a  man 
like  the  colonel  can  weaken  the  firmness  of -some  men. 
The  danger  is,  if  the  colonel  takes  a  bold  stand,  and  it  be 
known  that  he  is  opposed  to  Mr.  Eldridge  and  desires  his 
dismission,  that  others,  in  some  fitful  moment  of  displeas- 
ure, will  join  him  ;  and,  being  once  committed,  they  cannot 
retrace  their  steps,  however  they  might  desire  to  do  this 
when  cool  reflection  comes  to  their  aid.  This  danger  I 
have  apprehended  ever  since  it  came  to  our  ears  that  the 
colonel  was  disturbed  about  the  parish  debt ;  and  I  have 
talked  to  you  before  in  a  manner  similar  to  my  present 
mode  of  expression." 

"  0,  yes,  dear,  I  know  you  have  ;  but,  then,  I  ever 
looked  upon  the  possibility  of  the  colonel's  really  starting 
as  remote,  and  did  not  treasure  up  your  fears  as  I  am  now- 
inclined  to  do." 

****** 

In  accordance  with  the  parish  vote,  the  committee  forth- 


348  A  VOICE  FROM  THE   PARSONAGE. 

with  proceeded  to  put  it  into  execution.  Having  visited 
several  churches,  both  in  city  and  country,  and  consulted 
different  architects,  they  at  length  determined  on  a  plan, 
and  an  energetic  master  workman  had  the  enterprise  in 
hand.  When  he  first  beganjon  the  interior  of  the  church 
materials  were  being  collected  by  an  eminent  musical  es- 
tablishment for  the  construction  of  the  organ  ;  and  in  less 
than  seven  months  from  the  vote  to  repair  the  work  was 
accomplished.  Through  the  skilful  and  most  judicious 
management  of  the  committee,  the  entire  revolution  in  the 
aspect  was  so  pleasing  to  all,  and  the  pay  day  was  so 
adroitly  set,  that  nothing  was  heard  by  way  of  dissatisfac- 
tion. The  organ,  too,  took  charmingly  ;  and  even  Mr. 
Otis  was  heard  to  say — though  he  made  the  remark  when 
he  was  not  aware  that  certain  ears  were  near  —  that  it 
was  a  capital  thing  in  Mr.  Eldridge  to  put  the  people  up 
to  this  thing.  The  colonel,  too,  inasmuch  as  the  house  had 
been  beautified  to  his  acknowledged  satisfaction,  and  at 
an  expense  below  his  computation,  without,  as  yet,  any 
call  from  his  purse,  could  talk  of  the  improvements  with 
composure  and  even  with  some  degree  of  pride.  All  were 
so  pleased  that  Mr.  Dixon's  store  was  even  for  a  while 
silent  about  "  breaking  up  the  parish,"  <fec.,  and  every  one 
almost  felt  and  said  their  parish  was  about  the  best  in  the 
land.  The  new  and  splendid  clock  which  had  not  been 
thought  of  when  the  vote  to  repair  was  taken,  nor  while 
the  work  was  in  progress,  but  which  had  been  presented 
and  put  in  its  appropriate  place  before  the  eye  of  the 
preacher  when  the  carpets  were  being  put  down  by  the 
generosity  of  Mr.  Charles  Davidson,  had  a  wonderful 
effect  in  removing  the  chill  from  many  hearts,  and  in  put- 
ting smiles  on  many  faces  which  had  been  cold  and  sullen 
for  months. 

However,  notwithstanding  the  expense  attending  these 


REPAIRING  THE  CHURCH.  349 

things  was  gradually  paid,  yet  in  the  course  of  two  years 
each  man  knew  how  much  he  had  been  taxed  and  had  paid 
for  the  repairs  of  the  church.  Then  old  feelings,  which 
many  thought  were  extinguished,  began  to  appear  in  a 
few.  The  colonel  was  often  heard  to  utter  hard  things. 
Mr.  Dixon's  store  rang  again  with  dark  sayings  ;  and  fear 
was  on  many  hearts  that  trouble  might  yet  come. 
30 


CHAPTER    XXXI. 

THE  DEACON'S  SON. 

THE  happy  influence  exerted  by  Mr.  Eldridge  over  the 
lambs  of  the  flock  was  not  among  the  slightest  reasons 
which  fostered  the  attachment  of  the  people  to  their  pas- 
tor. In  the  fear  that  might  have  arisen  in  any  minds  that 
they  might  be  called  to  surrender  him,  either  at  the  call 
of  another  station,  or  of  death,  or  through  discord  and 
strife,  almost  the  first  thought  would  be, "  What  would  our 
children  do?  what  a  loss  it  would  be  to  the  young  of  the 
parish!"  Thus  were  Deacon  Smith  and  his  wife  fre- 
quently heard  to  express  themselves. 

Whilst  the  pastor  was  useful  among  the  young,  and  his 
usefulness  acknowledged  universally  in  the  parish  to  be 
great,  he  was  at  the  same  time  felt  to  be  useful  to  all 
classes.  His  church  always  had  food  from  both  his  preach- 
ing and  conversation,  and  those  who  were  not  among  the 
followers  of  the  Master  he  served  felt  that  he  was  of  great 
service  to  them  in  different  ways. 

It  was  the  practice  of  Mr.  Eldridge  to  exert  himself  in 
every  way  he  could  for  the  benefit  of  his  entire  people. 
Whenever  he  saw  that  he  could  do  good,  he  uniformly 
attempted  to  test  his  ability.  He  thought  he  beheld  in 
the  oldest  son  of  Deacon  Smith  indications  of  feeling 
which  were  far  from  being  promising.  Indeed,  he  had 
heard  from  different  sources  that  his  conduct  was  not 

(350) 


THE  DEACON'S  SON.  351 

only  of  evil  tendency  to  himself,  but  to  others  by  whom 
he  was  known  and  with  whom  he  associated.  He  men- 
tioned his  fears  to  the  parents,  and  they  each  acknowl- 
edged that  what  the  pastor  had  observed  in  their  child 
had  already  caused  them  immense  pain.  They  entreated 
their  pastor's  interposition  with  their  son.  He  informed 
them  it  was  his  purpose  to  seek  an  opportunity  for  conver- 
sation with  him.  To  this  they  urged,  and  thanked  him 
heartily  for  having  previously  thought  of  thus  doing. 

This  son  was  just  rising  to  manhood.  Another  year 
would  give  him  his  freedom.  There  were  in  him  the  ele- 
ments of  a  character  which  might  render  him  of  great  ser- 
vice to  the  community.  No  expense  had  been  withheld  by 
his  parents  in  his  education.  Though  he  had  been  opposed 
to  a  collegiate  course,  yet  the  schools  he  had  attended  had 
given  him  almost,  if  not  entirely,  the  accomplishments 
which  would  have  been  his  had  he  graduated  at  any  of 
our  colleges.  All  along  his  parents  and  friends  had 
strong  hopes  that  he  would  be  a  leader  in  all  that  was 
good  in  society  and  be  its  great  blessing.  He  had  ever 
been  a  favorite  both  with  those  of  his  own  age  and  with 
others,  and  his  influence  was  consequently  large.  It  was 
therefore  to  be  expected  that  to  such  a  pastor  as  Mr.  El- 
dridge  his  early  promise  should  be  known  and  his  ripen- 
ing character  be  an  object  of  lively  interest.  A  good  and 
watchful  pastor  always  sees  the  centres  of  influence,  and 
is  deeply  anxious  that  such  should  be  sound  and  healthful. 
He  is  much  around  such  to  add  to  these  strength  and 
direction.  By  reason  of  his  vigils  he  saw  in  young  Smith 
what  greatly  distressed  him  ;  for  he  feared  for  the  results 
of  certain  developments  if  not  speedily  removed,  both  on 
himself  and  on  those  over  whom  he  had  great  sway.  He 
therefore  sought,  and  at  length  found,  a  suitable  opportu- 
nity for  the  expression  of  his  fears  and  the  interposition  of 
Iris  counsels.  Knowing  that  his  subject  was  of  a  spirited 


352         A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

temperament,  he  proceeded  cautiously  and  warily ;  and, 
in  his  first  interview,  was  encouraged  by  the  frank  ac- 
knowledgments of  his  young  friend  that  his  course  had 
not  been  approved  by  his  own  mind  and  conscience,  and 
his  ready  promise  to  amend,  to  anticipate  that  his  interpo- 
sition would  not  be  in  vain.  The  deacon,  seeing  the  pas- 
tor soon  after  this  interview,  met  him  with  tears  of  joy, 
and  warmly  thanked  him  for  his  fidelity  to  his  son,  and 
expressed  to  him  a  conviction  that  good  had  already  been 
done,  and  that  the  child  would  yet  be  to  him  all  that  he 
had  hoped.  The  pastor  continued  to  keep  his  eye  out 
upon  the  young  man,  and  his  ear  open  to  that  which  was 
said  of  him  by  those  who  had  better  opportunities  than 
his  own  for  knowing  his  downsitting  and  uprising.  From 
both  of  these  sources  of  knowledge  he  soon  became  again 
disturbed  ;  and  it  was  not  long  ere  he  had  a  second  inter- 
view with  the  young  man.  By  reason  of  his  former  ac- 
knowledgment and  promise,  and  because,  after  both,  he 
was  not  improved,  the  pastor  was  somewhat  discouraged. 
He  manifested  this  feeling,  and  young  Smith  appeared  to 
be  troubled  by  it.  Such  was  his  expression,  so  fair, 
so  sincere,  so  sensible  did  he  manifest  himself  that  his 
course,  if  persisted  in,  would  despoil  him  of  a  good 
name,  rob  him  of  all  salutary  influence,  make  him  a  pest 
in  community,  and  withal  cloud  the  horizon  of  his  affec- 
tionate parents,  and  make  it  all  night  in  the  home  of  his 
childhood  and  youth,  that  Mr.  Eldridge  allowed  himself 
again  to  feel  that  there  yet  was  strong  reason  for  hope 
that  his  young  friend  would  fortify  himself  against  tempta- 
tion, and  retrace  his  steps,  and  be  a  strong  stay  for  his 
parents  and  a  useful  member  of  community.  With  such 
feelings  he  parted  from  him.  However,  a  few  weeks 
brought  to  Mr.JEldridge's  heart  greater  sorrow  on  account 
of  the  young  man  than  it  had  previously  experienced,  and 
he  once  more  gained  a  place  by  his  side  for  the  purpose 


THE  DEACON'S  SON.  353 

of  another  effort  to  save  him.  When  the  pastor  affection- 
ately inquired  of  his  progress  in  the  promised  work  of 
reform  the  young  man  endeavored  to  report  favorably, 
and  might  have  succeeded  with  a  less  faithful  friend  in 
leaving  the  impression  that  this  reform  was  advancing 
rapidly  towards  the  most  complete  consummation.  As 
Mr.  Eldridge  inquired  about  this  step  and  that  in  his 
course,  of  which  in  his  vigilance  he  had  gained  knowl- 
edge, a  crimson  hue  might  be  seen  on  the  countenance  of 
his  friend,  significative  of  confusion  and  shame,  and  there 
might  be  heard  from  his  lips  a  strong  denial  of  the  allega- 
tions suggested  and  an  earnest  assertion  of  his  innocence. 
When  his  assertions  were  confronted  with  the  testimony 
of  faithful  witnesses  and  there  was  no  power  to  gainsay 
or  resist  them,  then  the  young  man,  as  if  in  the  hands  and 
under  the  guidance  of  a  power  from  which  all  that  is  evil 
in  our  world  has  arisen,  sent  forth  torrents  of  wrath  arid 
cursing  upon  the  friend  by  his  side  for  his  interference  in 
business  which  was  not  his  own,  and  menaced  him  sorely 
that  such  conduct  of  his  would  be  visited  upon  him  with 
consequences  far  from  being  pleasant  and  desirable.  Why 
all  this  change  in  demeanor,  was  to  Mr.  Eldridge,  at  first, 
a  mystery.  He  had  not  been  rough  with  his  friend  nor 
unkind.  True,  he  had  faithfully  depicted  to  him  the  end 
of  the  way  he  was  travelling.  True,  he  had  detailed 
many  scenes  of  pain  and  suffering  he  would  pass  through 
before  reaching  this  end,  such  as  his  being  abandoned  by 
refined,  virtuous,  and  respectable  society,  and  his  identity 
with  vice  and  profligacy  ;  but  his  every  look,  and  word, 
and  tone  were  nothing  but  love,  and  denoted  nothing  but 
a  deep  and  tender  interest  in  his  highest  welfare.  As  he 
sat  hearing  peal  after  peal  of  abuse  and  defiance,  the  pas- 
tor thought  he  could  penetrate  the  mystery  which  this  con- 
duct at  first  created  by  the  supposition  that  it  was  his 
mighty  effort  to  rid  himself  of  reproof,  and  that  he  had 
30* 


354         A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PAKSONAGE, 

reached  the  turning  point  of  his  career.  The  subsequent 
history  of  the  young  man  proved  that  the  pastor  was 
correct. 

It  was  some  weeks  before  the  pastor  met  Deacon  Smith. 
He  had  designed  calling  upon  him,  but  had  been  prevented 
by  the  imperious  call  of  other  duties.  He  wished  to  sym- 
pathize with  the  father  and  to  condole  with  him  in  an 
affliction  which  he  had  tried  faithfully  to  avert,  but  which 
had  come-.in  despite  of  all  human  power  to  prevent.  It  was 
not  at  the  deacon's  house  where  Mr.  Eldridge  met  him, 
but  in  the  street.  As  he  approached  him,  and  whilst  ex- 
tending the  warm  hand  which  had  ever  before  met  a  hand 
equally  }varm  in  congratulations  on  meeting,  Mr.  Eldridge 
thought  he  discovered  a  look  about  the  deacon  which  was 
uncommon  to  him.  Unsuspecting  that  the  changed  look 
was  the  effect  of  alienated  feeling  towards  the  pastor, — 
conscious  that  his  whole  course  towards  himself  and  fam- 
ily had  ever  been  prompted  by  the  purest  friendship  and 
most  sacred  fidelity,  and  believing  that  he  had  the  warm 
approval  and  gratitude  of  the  deacon  for  all  that  he  had 
endeavored  to  accomplish,  —  Mr.  Eldridge  had  no  doubt 
that  the  present  strange  demeanor  of  his  friend  was  the 
product  of  sorrow  from  the  conduct  of  his  son.  Accord- 
ingly he  soon  alluded  to  him,  supposing  that  his  feelings 
were  absorbed  in  reflections  upon  him.  Instead  of  relax- 
ing under  the  tender  tones  of  the  pastor  and  the  expres- 
sion of  his  warmest  sympathy,  as  would  be  natural  did 
the  strange  manner  grow  out  of  trouble  from  this  source, 
his  bearing  grew  more  stiff  and  indifferent.  Of  this  the 
guileless  pastor  thought  nothing  more  than  that  his 
troubles  had  a  deep  effect  upon  him ;  and  he  continued 
pouring  into  the  deacon's  ear,  and,  as  he  supposed,  his 
heart  likewise,  all  that  rich  consolation  which  the  gospel 
so  abundantly  administers  to  the  afflicted.  Whilst  he  was 
thus  engaged  the  deacon  uttered  rarely  a  sentence ;  and 


THE  DEACON'S  SON.  355 

they  at  length  separated,  the  deacon  and  pastor  going  to 
their  respective  homes. 

Upon  his  arrival  at  his  house  Mr.  Eldridge  entered  his 
sitting  room,  in  which  there  happened  at  the  time  to  be 
no  one  present,  and  seated  himself  in  a  rocking  chair, 
where  he  remained  some  moments  in  profound  meditation. 
At  length  his  wife  came  in  ;  and,  finding  him  resting  his 
head  on  his  hand,  which  was  his  frequent  practice  when 
pensive  and  thoughtful,  she  observed, — 

"  0, 1  did  not  know  that  you  had  returned,  husband  ; 
what  is  the  matter  now  ?  " 

"  I  have  seen  Deacon  Smith,  and  I  cannot  keep  him  out 
of  my  mind.  I  fear  the  conduct  of  his  son  will  be  almost 
too  much  for  him,"  Mr.  Eldridge  said.  "  I  endeavored  to 
console  him  ;  but,  poor  man !  I  am  afraid  he  is  incon- 
solable." 

"  I  am  very  glad,"  Mrs.  Eldridge  remarked,  "  that  you 
have  seen  him.  I  have  been  much  tried  at  the  circum- 
stances which  have  prevented  your  calling  there  before ; 
for  I  knew  that  both  the  deacon  and  his  wife  would  be 
very  anxious  to  see  you." 

"  Ah,  well,  I  do  not  think  that  any  thing  man  can  do 
can  be  of  service  to  the  deacon ;  poor,  disappointed,  most 
afflicted  man ! "  Mr.  Eldridge  continued.  "  I  hardly  ever 
met  with  an  individual  whom  trouble  had  so  greatly 
changed.  He  did  not  appear  like  Deacon  Smith.  If  I  had 
not  been  aware  of  his  great  trial,  and  were  I  but  slightly 
acquainted  with  him,  I  should  have  thought  that  he  was 
very  sullen." 

"  That  cannot  be  said  of  Deacon  Smith,  husband,  that  he  is 
sutten"  Mrs.  Eldridge  said.  " His  feelings  are  so  acute 
that  he  does  not  act  like  himself ;  and  no  wonder.  Robert 
is  his  oldest  son  ;  he  has  made  great  calculations  upon 
him  ;  and  to  have  him  conduct  as  he  does  is  a  most  severe 
trial.  The  deacon  has  never  had  any  trial  before  from 


356  A   VOICE   FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

his  family.  There  has  been  very  little  sickness  in  his 
family,  and  never  a  death  ;  and  this  takes  hold  upon  him 
most  effectually." 

"  Yes,  it  does,  poor  man ! "  Mr.  Eldridge  said.  "  I  wish 
I  could  do  something  for  him  ;  but  I  feel  that  I  cannot.  I 
most  sincerely  pity  him." 

In  this  way  did  the  pastor  express  himself  of  his  poor, 
afflicted  deacon  ;  and  whilst  this  conversation  was  going 
on  at  the  parsonage,  let  us  see  the  deacon  at  home.  There 
was  visiting  at  his  house  for  a  few  days  a  lady  who  was 
much  attached  to  her  pastor,  and  one  who  was  generally 
beloved  for  her  many  virtues  throughout  the  parish.  She 
had  long  been  on  very  intimate  acquaintance  at  the  dea- 
con's, and  was  regarded  and  treated  by  all  the  family  rather 
as  one  of  their  own  number  than  as  a  common  friend. 

When  the  deacon  came  home  his  appearance  was  as 
usual.  There  was  the  same  pleasant  smile  on  his  counte- 
nance and  the  same  readiness  at  pleasantry  which  were 
usual  to  him.  His  wife,  as  was  her  custom  when  he  re- 
turned from  the  village,  inquired  after  the  individuals  he 
had  met.  In  reply  to  her  questions  he  mentioned  over  a 
number  of  persons  with  whom  he  had  had  a  few  words. 

"  Did  you  see  any  thing  of  Mr.  Eldridge  ?  "  Mrs.  Smith 
asked. 

With  a  sudden  change  of  voice  and  manner  he  replied, 
"  I  rather  think  the  man  thinks  he  has  seen  me" 

"  Why,  husband,"  said  his  wife,  in  painful  astonishment, 
"did  not  you  promise  me  that  you  would  not  talk  angrily 
with  Mr.  Eldridge  when  you  met  him  ?  " 

"  Well,"  said  the  deacon,  "  I  have  kept  my  promise.  I 
did  not  say  an  angry  word  to  him ;  but  I  rather  guess  I 
let  him  know  that  I  don't  like  to  have  our  Robert  talked 
to  as  he  did  the  other  day." 

"  Why,  Mr.  Smith !  I  wonder  at  you.  How  could  you  do 
any  thing  to  wound  the  feelings  of  such  a  good  and  devoted 


THE  DEACON'S  SON.  357 

minister  as  Mr.  Eldridge  ?  After  what  you  told  me  I  have 
rested  easy,  thinking  you  would  not  let  Mr.  Eldridge  know 
that  you  felt  injured.  You  know  you  have  not  the  least 
cause  for  feeling  hard  towards  him.  You  have  told  Robert 
time  and  again,  and  so  have  I,  the  very  same  things  and 
worse  things  than  Mr.  Eldridge  did  ;  and  I  think  it  is  very 
unreasonable  in  you  to  blame  him  in  the  least  for  what  he 
has  said.  You  requested  Mr.  Eldridge  to  see  Robert,  and 
to  exert  himself  all  that  he  could  to  save  him,  and  he  has 
been  faithful ;  and,  instead  of  your  feeling  hard  about  him, 
you  ought  to  feel  most  grateful." 

"  Well,  I  don't  like  to  have  a  man  tell  my  son  that  he  is 
in  danger  of  being  a  pest  in  the  community,  of  being 
shunned  by  all  respectable  people,"  the  deacon  said, 
"  when  there  is  no  call  for  it.  Mr.  Eldridge  knows  that 
Robert  has  done  much  better  since  he  had  his  first  conver- 
sation with  him  ;  and  if  he  had  let  him  alone  after  that  all 
would  have  been  well,  and  I  should  ever  have  been  grateful 
to  him." 

"  We  know,  husband,"  said  Mrs.  Smith,  "  that  our  minis- 
ter is  not  a  rash,  but  a  very  prudent  man.  He  never 
says  any  thing  until  he  is  satisfied  his  duty  calls  him  to 
speak.  I  have  no  doubt  all  that  he  said  to  Robert  was 
called  for.  Mr.  Eldridge  would  not  have  said  any  thing  to 
him  unless  his  judgment  arid  conscience  urged  him,  I  am 
persuaded." 

"  You  know  how  Robert  feels  towards  Mr.  Eldridge," 
the  deacon  said.  "He  feels  that  he  has  abused  him,  and 
I  think  he  has  good  reason  for  feeling  so." 

"  No,  you  do  not,  husband  ;  you  do  not ;  for  you  have  said 
to  Robert  and  to  me,  many  times,  the  very  things  which 
Mr.  Eldridge  did,  and  you  said  more.  You  did  not  think 
you  were  abusing  the  child  when  you  said  them,  nor  did  I ; 
nor  do  I  now  think  that  Mr.  Eldridge  has  abused  him. 
How  did  Mr.  Eldridge  appear  when  you  saw  him  to-day  ?  " 


358  A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

"  0, 1  don't  know.  He  appeared  as  usual,  I  suppose," 
the  deacon  -said.  "  I  felt  so,  I  did  not  pay  much  attention 
to  know  how  he  appeared." 

"I  think  you  are  very  much  out  of  the  way,  my 
dear  husband,  in  feeling  as  you  do  towards  our  faithful 
pastor." 

"  Perhaps  I  am,"  the  deacon  said  ;  "  but  I  do  not  think 
so.  I  think  Mr.  Eldridge  has  done  very  wrong,  indeed,  in 
saying  any  thing  to  make  Robert  so  angry.  I  am  really 
afraid  what  he  has  said  to  him  will  be  the  means  of  his 
ruin.  I  am  not  reconciled  to  such  conduct.  I  never 
can  be." 

"  0  husband !     It  grieves  me  to  hear  you  talk  so." 

It  was  very  unfortunate  for  the  deacon  that  he  did  not 
give  ear  more  to  his  wife  and  less  to  his  son.  The  truth 
was,  the  son  was  on  the  highway  to  ruin,  whilst  the  blinded 
eye  of  the  father  could  not  see  him  as  thus  exposed. 
Strong  affection,  unwillingness  to  have  it  so,  credulity  at 
the  deceptive  sayings  of  the  child  combined  to  close  the 
eye  of  the  parent  to  the  real  course  of  his  son,  and  to 
make  his  ear  heavy  that  he  could  not  hear  from  faithful 
witnesses  what  this  course  really  was.  Had  he  sought  an 
interview  with  his  pastor,  according  to  the  desire  of  his 
wife  that  he  should,  and,  in  the  exercise  of  candor  and  con- 
fidence in  the  fidelity  of  the  man  whom  he  had  hitherto 
almost  adored,  borne  himself  whilst  this  interview  lasted, 
the  deacon  would  have  been  as  wise  as  his  pastor  in  rela- 
tion to  matters  involving  the  momentous  interests  of  tho 
child.  Had  the  pastor  suspected  the  possibility  of  the 
father's  being  ignorant  of  the  facts  which  he  discovered 
through  his  own  affectionate  vigilance,  had  he  thought  it 
possible  that  his  own  interest  in  a  parishioner  could  tran- 
scend the  interest  of  a  parent  in  the  child,  of  course  Mr. 
Eldridge  could  at  once  have  given  the  deacon  both  light 
and  knowledge  which  might  have  put  new  feelings  in  his 


THE  DEACON'S  SON.  359 

soul,  and  thereby  softened  the  asperity  of  manner  which 
the  pastor  charitably  mistook  for  the  effects  of  deep  sor- 
row. The  best  men  sometimes  err ;  therefore  it  must  not  be 
accounted  marvellous  that  a  deacon  should  do  what  "is  im- 
proper. Had  Deacon  Smith  only  mentioned  to  his 
pastor  when  he  met  him  in  the  street  the  state  of  his  feel- 
ings, Mr.  Eldridge  in  a  few  words  would  have  disabused 
him  of  his  prejudice,  were  he  willing  to  allow  facts  and 
evidence  their  convincing  power.  But  alas  for  poor 
human  nature!  affection  for  an  erring  child  had  made 
him  his  helper  in  vice,  and  induced  him  to  sympathize  with 
the  child  in  his  wrath  towards  the  faithful  friend  who  had 
endeavored  to  interpose  and  save  the  one  from  ruin  and 
the  other  from  the  keenest  sorrows.  However  strange  it 
may  seem  that  the  confidence  in  and  love  and  respect  for 
the  pastor  which  had  been  strengthening  for  nearly  twenty 
years  should  be  at  once  destroyed,  and  in  their  place  bo 
rancor  and  prejudice  of  no  common  character,  yet  such 
was  the  revolution  in  the  breast  of  the  deacon.  His  dis- 
cerning and  amiable  wife  did  much  to  keep  the  new 
feelings  which  had  entered  her  husband's  heart  in  abey- 
ance ;  but  she  was  not  always  with  him,  nor  did  the  recol- 
lection of  her  entreaties  always  overcome  him  to  silence 
when  abroad.  Though  for  months  he  did  not  speak  out  so 
that  the  community  became  advised  of  his  alienated  feel- 
ing, yet  there  were  those  in  the  parish  who  were  apprised 
of  its  existence.  Somehow  or  other,  Colonel  Presbury  and 
the  deacon  grew  more  intimate.  Goods  came  oftener  from 
Dixon's  store  than  formerly,  and  numberless  little  things, 
in  a  small,  stifled  utterance,  for  a  year  or  two  whispered 
that  all  was  not  just  right  with  the  deacon.  The  pastor, 
however,  knew  nothing  of  the  change.  When  he  called 
at  the  deacon's,  Mrs.  Smith,  through  fear  her  husband 
might  say  or  do  what  would  express  his  real  feelings, 
would  be  all  attention  to  the  pastor ;  she  really  lived  for 


360  A  VOICE  PROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

his  real  worth ;  and  the  deacon  had  sense  enough  to 
restrain  himself  so  that  a  discrepancy  in  feeling  between 
husband  and  wife  would  not  be  manifest.  So  the  pastor 
never  dreamed  that  an  enemy  was  in  ambush  before  him 
or  that  the  deacon  was  changed  from  what  he  had  ever 
been.  This  kind  of  wary  management  was  as  successful 
generally  in  the  parish  in  concealing  the  real  state  of 
the  deacon's  feelings.  Even  Colonel  Presbury  was  charged, 
-and  solemnly  promised  to  give  no  publicity  to  the  secret 
unless  by  permission.  Save,  therefore,  a  certain  few. 
the  community  for  much  time  knew  nothing  of  the  true 
state  of  tho  deacon's  feelings. 


CHAPTER   XXXII. 

A  DONATION  PARTY. 

WHILST  Mr.  Eldridge  had  so  deep  a  place  in  the  affec- 
tions of  his  people  as  the  preceding  chapters  must  have 
shown,  it  would  have  been  singular  if  he  were  not  often 
remembered  by  the  families  of  his  parish  at  those  times 
when  the  favor  of  a  propitious  Providence  had  given 
them  an  exuberant  supply  for  their  own  necessities.  He 
was  thus  remembered.  The  farmers  did  this  when  their 
fields  contained  the  articles  which  are  every  day  needed 
for  the  table  where  the  wants  of  the  body  are  satisfied. 
The  few  manufacturers  who  were  here  and  there  in  his 
territory  did  this ;  and  scarcely  a  single  household  in  the 
parish  omitted  in  the  course  of  every  year  to  make  the 
pastor  or  his  family  some  present  with  which  to  manifest 
their  affection  and  esteem. 

.  Aside  from  these  informal  and  private  acts  of  generosity, 
it  had  ever  been  the  practice  of  his  people  to  go  en  masse 
once  a  year  to  the  house  of  their  pastor  to  tender  their 
kind  congratulations,  and  to  leave  in  his  family  that  which 
would  tell  in  the  wardrobe,  or  on  the  table,  or  in  the 
library.  These  annual  visitations  were  something  more 
than  occasions  for  allowing  the  people  to  have  a  good 
time  at  the  parsonage,  regardless  of  the  injury  to  carpets, 
paint,  furniture,  which  often  accompanies  indifferent  as- 
semblages for  fun  and  frolic  which  has  marked  some 
31  (361) 


362  A   VOICE  FROM  THE   PAESONAGE. 

donation  visits  of  which  we  have  heard.  The  parishioners 
of  Mr.  Eldridge  never  incurred  the  charge  of  eating  all 
that  they  carried,  and  of  leaving  nought  but  the  fragments  to 
testify  of 'their  respect  and  love  for  their  pastor.  If  the 
disposition  thus  to  do  had  appeared  in  many  it  would  have 
been  rebuked  by  the  ruling  spirits,  which  were  powerful, 
by  their  judicious  and  commendable  counsel  to  have  the 
donation  visit  always  amount  to  something  of  substantial 
benefit  to  the  pastor.  It  was  well  known  what  Squire  and 
Mrs.  Davidson,  and  others  like  them,  considered  the 
proper  demeanor  on  these  occasions,  and  likewise  that  it 
would  not  escape  the  eyes  of  Mrs.  Smith,  Mrs.  Clay,  and 
others,  what  was  carried  to  the  parsonage,  and  what  re- 
mained there,  too,  after  the  company  had  mostly  retired.  By 
reason  of  these  influences  there  was  ever  an  anxiety  and 
care  on  the  part  of  every  family  to  have  their  gift  of  an 
appropriate,  and  therefore  of  a  serviceable,  character. 

In  the  nineteenth  year  of  his  pastorate  the  people  made 
Mr.  Eldridge  a  donation  visit,  which  was  like  the  others 
which  had  preceded  it — a  gathering  of  the  multitude. 
Smiling  countenances,  heavy  baskets  and  boxes,  full  bar- 
rels and  bags,  and  large  bundles  were  all  there  as  usual. 
Till  an  hour  or  two  had  passed  after  the  company  was 
made  up  it  was  not  discovered  but  that  all  the  people  were 
there  likewise.  When,  however,  the  novelty  and  excite- 
ment of  the  scene  were  over,  and  it  became  a  matter  of 
comfort  for  those  who  were  there  to  sit  rather  than  stand,' 
when  the  time  came  for  "  taking  observations,"  it  was  dis- 
covered that  several  of  the  people  who  had  heretofore 
always  been  prominent  on  these  occasions  were  absent. 
Squire  Davidson,  of  course,  was  not  present ;  for  all  knew 
and  greatly  lamented  his  failing  health.  But  why  Colonel 
Presbury,  Deacon  Smith,  and  one  or  two  others  were 
absent,  was  a  matter  of  wonderment  to  the  largest  part  of 
the  company.  Mrs.  Smith  was  there,  and  it  was  remarked 


A   DONATION   PARTY.  363 

"by  some  that  the  wagon  in  which  she  rode  was  unusually 
freighted  with  good  things  for  the  pastor  and  his  family  ; 
but  why  the  hired  man,  and  not  the  husband,  was  her  at- 
tendant, seemed  greatly  to  confuse  the  many.  Although  Mrs. 
Smith  had  ever  been  pi'ominent  on  these  occasions,  being 
one  of  the  few  charged  with  the  general  superintendence,  yet 
at  this  time  her  activity  transcended  its  usual  boundary. . 
This  circumstance  was  noticed,  and  made  the  subject  of 
remark,  in  many  circles  about  the  house.  It  was  considered 
that  her  attachment  to  her  pastor  grew  more  and  more 
strong,  because  her  attentions  to  him  were  so  many  and 
so  marked.  It  being  no  place  for  seeking  an  explanation 
of  the  deacon's  absence,  when  it  was  generally  understood 
that  he  was  in  town  and  in  health,  and  that  he  had  been 
seen  "  up  in  town  "  by  many  just  before  they  came  to  the 
parsonage,  those  who  were  inquisitive  for  the  cause  did 
not  attempt  to  gratify  their  curiosity,  but  became  engrossed 
with  the  scenes  that  were  versatile  about  them. 

Mrs.  Smith,  Mrs.  Clay,  and  Mrs.  Howard,  being  leading 
characters  at  this  gathering,  frequently  were  in  consul- 
tation in  relation  to  sundry  arrangements  for  the  evening. 
The  entire  parsonage  being  thrown  open  to  the  people, 
these  ladies  felt  at  liberty  to  enter  any  room  which  might 
be  best  suited  for  their  purpose.  When  need  of  counsel 
and  especial  care  had  ceased,  towards  the  close  of  the 
evening,  Mrs.  Smith  indicated  to  Mrs.  Clay  and  Mrs. 
Howard  that  their  company  would  afford  her  peculiar 
pleasure  ;  and,  herself  leading  the  way,  the  three  went  to- 
gether to  the  study  of  the  pastor  to  commune  one  with 
another,  with  none  to  disturb. 

" This  has  been  a  most  trying  evening  to  me"  Mrs.  Smith 
remarked.  "  It  has  cost  me  the  greatest  effort  to  restrain 
my  feelings  ;  for  I  have  felt  that  probably  this  would  be  the 
last  donation  visit  our  dear  pastor  would  ever  receive  from 
our  people." 


364         A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

"  What  has  occurred  of  late  to  make  you  thus  con- 
clude? "  Mrs.  Clay  inquired.  "  Colonel  Presbury's  forces 
are  not  increasing,  I  hope." 

"  I  fear  they  are,"  Mrs.  Smith  replied  ;  "  and " 

The  sentence  was  not  finished,  by  reason  of  the  excessive 
weeping  of  Mrs.  Smith.  Soon,  however,  she  rallied,  and 
continued,  "  The  thought  is  too  much  for  me.  I  was  going 
to  observe  that  my  husband  was  as  much  opposed  to  Mr. 
Eldridge  as  Colonel  Presbury  is." 

The  effect  of  this  announcement  on  Mrs.  Clay  and  Mrs. 
Howard  may  be  conceived.  It  overpowered  conversation 
for  a  moment,  and  the  three  sat  pensive  and  sad.  At 
length  Mrs.  Howard  said, — 

"  It  cannot  be  that  your  husband  has  become  an  enemy 
to  our  pastor." 

Mrs.  Smith,  in  explanation,  proceeded  to  state  that 
Colonel  Presbury  had  sent  a  large  number  of  logs  to  her 
husband's  mill,  of  late,  to  be  sawed  into  boards,  and  that 
he  had  been  there  himself  frequently  to  see  about  them. 
Consequently  her  husband  and  the  colonel  had  been  much 
together. 

"  The  conduct  of  our  son,"  she  continued,  "  is  no  secret 
to  either  of  you.  Our  pastor,  like  a  faithful  shepherd, 
had  watched  the  youth  and  detected  symptoms  of  his 
unpromising  course.  Calling  one  day  at  our  house,  he  very 
tenderly  and  delicately  alluded  to  the  subject.  Both  Mr. 
Smith  and  myself  were  very  grateful  to  him  for  his  sympa- 
thy, and  we  each  entreated  him  to  endeavor  to  impress  upon 
Robert  the  danger  he  was  in,  and  try  to  save  him.  He  re- 
plied that  he  had  been  seeking  a  convenient  opportunity  for 
a  conversation  with  him  ;  and  we  both  thanked  him  for  his 
thoughtfulness  in  our  behalf.  He  soon  had  an  interview 
with  Robert,  and  we  thought  the  effect  of  his  conversation 
with  him  was  very  salutary,  and  we  were  encouraged  to 
hope  that  a  reformation  would  ensue.  The  interview  with 


A  DONATION  PARTY.  365 

Robert  was  repealed  twice  or  thrice.  The  last  time  that 
Mr.  Eldridge  conversed  with  him  he  was  very  plain  with 
him ;  and,  in  consequence  of  his  fidelity,  Robert  became 
very  much  enraged,  and  came  home  with  a  long  story  to 
his  father,  which  much  affected  my  husband.  Mr.  Smith 
at  once  sympathized  with  the  boy,  took  his  part,  and  se- 
verely censured  Mr.  Eldridge.  I  could  not  think  that  our 
pastor  had  done  wrong,  though  I  could  not  see  then  the 
occasion  for  his  saying  many  things  which  he  did.  How- 
ever, I  was  disposed  to  wait,  before  I  blamed  Mr.  El- 
dridge, until  I  had  seen  him  and  heard  from  his  own  lips 
his  reasons  for  his  course.  My  husband  would  not  hear 
to  my  suggestions,  but  gave  himself  up  entirely  to  sym- 
pathy with  Robert.  It  was  not  long  before  I  saw  our 
pastor,  and  was  entirely  satisfied  that  he  had  pursued  the 
only  course  which  the  circumstances  of  Robert's  case 
pointed  out  to  one  who  would  endeavor  to  serve  him.  I 
never  had  better  evidence  of  his  interest  in  our  family, 
and  certainly  never  before  felt  under  more  obligations 
to  him,  both  as  a  pastor  and  a  friend,  than  I  did  when  he 
was  giving  me  an  account  of  our  Robert's  conduct  and  his 
efforts  to  save  him  from  utter  ruin.  I  thought  I  would 
not  hint  to  him  that  my  husband  felt  himself  injured, 
and  I  presume  he  does  not  now  know  but  that  he  is  as 
friendly  to  him  as  formerly," 

"  I  should  have  thought,"  Mrs.  Clay  remarked,  "  that  the 
deacon  would  have  waited  with  yourself  for  an  interview 
with  Mr.  Eldridge  before  he  condemned  him." 

"  He  ought  to  have  done  so,"  Mrs.  Smith  replied  ;  "  and 
I  tried  hard  to  induce  him  to  wait,  and  not  blame  our 
pastor  as  he  did  in  the  presence  of  Robert.  But  my 
efforts  were  of  no  avail.  He  did  not  appear  to  believe  it 
possible  that  Mr.  Eldridge  could  have  had  sufficient 
reasons  for  talking,  to  our  son  as  he  did.  He  said  that  he 
knew  Robert  was  not  as  bad  a  boy  as  Mr.  Eldridge  had 
31* 


366         A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

represented.  0, 1  fear  that  something  will  be  done  that 
will  pain  many  a  heart  in  our  parish  and  greatly  distress 
our  good  minister." 

"The  deacon,  then,"  said  Mrs.  Howard,  "has  never 
manifested  to  Mr.  Eldridge  his  displeasure  ?  " 

"No,  I  presume  not,"  was  the  reply.  "He  promised 
me,"  said  Mrs.  Smith,  "  that  he  would  not  say  any  thing 
to  Mr.  Eldridge  or  any  one  else  on  the  subject ;  and 
doubtless  he  is  now  entirely  ignorant  that  his  '  good 
deacon/  as  he  calls  him,  is  a  bitter  enemy." 

It  was  remarked  above  that  Deacon  Smith  was  seeii 
by  some  of  the  company  in  the  village  as  they  were  pro- 
ceeding to  the  parsonage.  He  informed  his  wife  in  the 
afternoon  that  important  business  would  prevent  his  accom- 
panying her  to  the  parsonage  in  the  evening.  So  after 
fitting  her  out,  which  he  did  very  freely  and  pleasantly, 
he  took  another  horse  and  carriage  and  proceeded  to  the 
place  where  his  important  business  was  to  be  transacted. 
This  place  was  at  the  house  of  Colonel  Presbury.  It  had 
been  arranged  that  a  party  should  there  meet  —  if  three 
or  four  can  be  called  a  party  —  to  deliberate  and  advise 
in  relation  to  an  end  on  which  the  colonel  and  the  deacon 
had  determined  to  reach.  Whilst,  therefore,  the  great 
body  of  the  people  were  joyous  in  their  manifestations  of 
regard  to  a  faithful  pastor  in  the  parsonage,  and  dream- 
ing of  no  threatening  danger  to  the  permanency  of  the  tio 
which  had  for  years  bound  them  so  happily  together,  Dea- 
con Smith  and  Colonel  Presbury,  with  one  or  two  others, 
were  holding  a  caucus  to  concert  measures  for  the  de- 
struction of  this  tie  and  for  separating  this  devoted  min- 
ister from  his  attached  flock!  In  this  way  it  is  that 
clouds  suddenly  gather  in  a  pastor's  horizon.  The  sun 
goeth  down  clearly,  and  before  midnight  there  is  a  tem- 
pest. Deacon  Smith  probably  had  forgotten  how  warmly 
he  had  expressed  himself  in  favor  of  his  pastor,  and  that 


A   DONATION  PARTY.  367 

he  had  most  indignantly  rejected  the  suggestion,  pleasantly 
and  jocosely  made,  that  perhaps  Colonel  Presbury  would 
have  him  for  a  coadjutor  in  the  nefarious  work  of  retali- 
ating on  the  pastor. 

The  deacon's  party  having  completed  the  business  for 
which  they  met  before  any  began  to  leave  the  parsonage, 
he  was  at  home  when  his  good  wife  returned.  Although 
she  could  not  be  happy,  even  when  thronged  by  the  multi- 
tude who  were  variously  testifying  ardent  love  for  one 
she  so  highly  valued,  yet  she  remained  to  be  one  of  the 
last  who  left  for  home. 

How  many,  on  reaching  their  own  abodes,  and  when 
musing  on  the  scenes  of  the  evening,  made  any  attempts 
to  conjecture  the  reasons  which  occasioned  the  absence 
of  Colonel  Presbury  and  Deacon  Smith  from  the  parson- 
age, is  not  known.  Doubtless  the  subject  was  agitated  in 
many  a  household  circle,  and  an  attempt  made  to  reach 
the  cause  of  this  remarkable  event.  What  passed  at  the 
parsonage  and  at  Mr.  Clay's  was  treasured  up. 

"How  happened  it,  husband,"  Mrs.  Eldridge  asked, 
"  that  Colonel  Presbury  and  Deacon  Smith  were  not  here 
this  evening  ?  " 

"  That  is  what  I  have  thought  of  with  much  anxiety," 
Mr.  Eldridge  replied.  "  I  asked  Mrs.  Smith  why  her  hus- 
band was  not  with  us ;  and  I  thought  she  betrayed  some 
trouble  as  she  replied  that  he  was  prevented  by  an  en- 
gagement." 

"  I  confess,"  Mrs.  Eldridge  continued,  "  if  it  was  not 
Deacon  Smith,  whom  we  know  so  well  as  a  very  frm  friend,  that 
I  should  suspect  something  was  wrong.  He  has  always 
been  at  our  donation  visits  and  been  very  active,  and  it 
seems  very  strange  that  he  was  away  to-night.  However, 
I  presume  he  had  some  business  which  came  upon  him  very 
suddenly,  or  he  would  have  been  here." 

"  It  seems  to  me,"  said  Mr.  Eldridge,  "  that,  if  this  had 


368  A  VOICE   FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

been  the  reason,  he  would  have  sent  us  a  special  message 
to  such  an  effect.  From  the  troubled  manner  of  his  wife 
when  I  alluded  to  his  absence,  I  have  thought  that  the 
deacon  might  have  been  here  had  he  been  disposed." 

"0,  I  cannot  think  there  was  any  disinclination,"  Mrs. 
Eldridge  replied.  "  Deacon  Smith  is  not  the  man  to  turn  so 
suddenly.  Mrs.  Clay  told  me  that  the  deacon's  wagon 
never  came  to  a  donation  party  with  so  valuable  a  freight 
as  it  brought  this  evening.  If  he  had  been  alienated 
towards  us,  that  would  not  have  been  the  case." 

"  It  might  have  been,"  said  Mr.  Eldridge.  "  Mrs.  Smith, 
you  know,  does  as  she  pleases,  and  it  may  be  that  she  had 
more  put  in  the  wagon  for  us  on  account  of  her  husband's 
coldness.  From  what  I  know  of  her,  I  should  think  that 
such  would  be  her  course  in  the  event  of  her  husband's 
estrangement  from  us.w 

"  I  would  not  suffer  myself,  husband,  for  a  moment,  to 
think  it  probable  that  good  Deacon  Smith  could  ever  feel 
differently  towards  us  from  what  he  has  done." 

"  I  cannot  tell  why  it  is  ;  but  it  seems  to  me,"  said  Mr. 
Eldridge,  "  that  Deacon  Smith  was  not  here  to-night  be- 
cause he  did  not  wish  to  be.  I  have  always  considered 
the  deacon  to  be  one  of  our  best  friends,  it  is  true,  and  I 
know  of  nothing  that  I  have  done  which  should  make 
him  otherwise  now ;  but  having  had  a  pretty  extended 
knowledge  of  mankind,  and  of  deacons  in  particular,  I 
have  learned  to  feel  that  a  deacon  will  take  a  sudden  tack 
round  against  a  pastor.  I  cannot  think  that  Deacon 
Smith  would  do  this ;  but  it  may  be  that  I  have  been 
mistaken." 

"  I  would  not  cherish  the  thought  that  Deacon  Smith 
had  become  unfriendly  to  you,"  said  Mrs.  Eldridge.  "  He 
is  the  last  man  to  do  this.  Only  think  how  many  people, 
both  in  and  out  of  our  parish,  have  told  us  what  Deacon 
Smith  has  said  in  favor  of  his  minister.  He  has  been 


A   DONATION  PARTY.  369 

exalting  you,  far  and  near,  ever  since  you  have  been  here, 
as  being  the  best  minister  in  the  state  ;  and  it  would  sound 
strangely  now  to  hear  him  talk  differently  from  this.  I 
would  not,  husband,  allow  myself  to  think  it  possible  for 
such  a  man  as  Deacon  Smith  to  turn  against  me." 

"  I  know,"  replied  Mr.  Eldridge,  "  that  all  the  past  mani- 
festations of  the  deacon  towards  me  make  it  very  im- 
probable that  he  is  unfriendly  now  ;  but  then,  after  all, 
deacons  have  acted  as  strangely  as  all  this." 

"  Well,  husband,  if  Deacon  Smith  is  against  you,  others 
will  be  soon.  He  has  great  sway  here,  you  know." 

"  That  he  has,"  said  Mr.  Eldridge  ;  "  I  am  well  aware  of 
this.  If  the  deacon  is  against  me,  I  may  as  well  think 
my  days  here  are  numbered  and  will  soon  be  finished." 

"  If  you  feel  that  he  is  unfriendly,"  said  Mrs.  Eldridge, 
"  I  would  call  and  see  him,  and  know  all  about  it." 

"  No,  no,  my  dear  wife  ;  that  is  not  my  way.  No  one  but 
yourself  will  ever  know  that  such  a  thought  is  in  my 
mind.  I  shall  go  on  as  ever,  endeavoring  to  do  my  duty 
day  by  day,  and  shall  not,  either  by  word  or  deed,  disclose 
to  any  one  a  fear  that  Deacon  Smith  may  be  opposed  to 
me.  I  have  already  seen  too  many  sad  effects  of  pastors 
helping  their  people  dismiss  them  in  doing  what  you  sug- 
gest. If  Deacon  Smith  is  opposed,  he  would  be  relieved 
should  I  introduce  the  subject  to  him.  I  have  long  made 
up  my  mind  that,  if  ever  there  should  be  trouble  in  the 
parish,  I  would  know  nothing  of  it.  My  opponents  shall 
never  have  any  assistance  from  my  words  or  actions  with 
which  they  can  the  more  easily  accomplish  their  work. 
They  shall  have  all  the  labor  and  all  the  pleasure." 

After  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clay  arrived  home,  Mrs.  Clay 
rehearsed  to  her  husband  the  conversation  of  Mrs.  Smith. 

"  Can  it  be,"  Mr.  Clay  said,  "  that  Deacon  Smith  has  left 
Mr.  Eldridge  ? —  the  man  he  has  praised  so  much,  the  man 


370  A   VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

he  has  considered  almost  the  personification  of  perfection. 
Can  it  be  that  Deacon  Smith  is  such  a  man  ?  " 

"  We  must,  indeed,  now  admit  this  to  be  the  fact,"  said 
Mrs.  Clay,  "Mrs.  Smith  being  authority.  It  is  sad  to 
think  of." 

"  Yes,  yes,"  said  Mr.  Clay  ;  "  if  Deacon  Smith  is  opposed 
to  Mr.  Eldridge,  Colonel  Presbury  will  probably  know  it, 
and  the  two  will  make  serious  trouble  in  the  parish." 

"There  maybe  some  little  trouble,"  said  Mrs.  Clay; 
"  but,  then,  it  will  not  amount  to  much.  There  are  enough 
here,  without  the  colonel  and  the  deacon,  who  are  able  and 
willing  to  stand  by  and  support  Mr.  Eldridge." 

"  These  two  individuals  will  carry  many  with  them,"  Mr. 
Clay  said.  "  If  they  really  undertake  to  dismiss  our  pas- 
tor, they  will  succeed,  I  have  no  doubt.  I  never  supposed 
the  colonel  could  do  much  unless  he  had  some  influential 
members  of  the  church  to  work  with  him  ;  and  now,  if  he 
has  the  deacon  on  his  side,  I  should  not  be  surprised  if  we 
had  a  council  here  within  a  year  for  the  purpose  of  dis- 
missing Mr.  Eldridge." 

"  How  is  it  possible  for  the  colonel  and  deacon  to  get  a 
majority  on  their  side,"  Mrs.  Clay  asked,  "  when  now 
nearly  all  the  people  are  satisfied  with  our  pastor  ?  " 

"  It  is  a  very  easy  thing,"  said  Mr.  Clay,  "  for  people  to 
be  friendly  to  a  minister  when  there  are  no  particular 
influences  at  work  to  make  them  otherwise.  There  are  a 
great  many  fair-weather  friends  in  a  parish,  who  are 
always  hid  in  a  storm.  The  deacon  and  colonel  will  make 
a  flurry,  and  it  will  not  be  six  months  before  they  will  have 
on  their  side  of  the  house  a  majority  of  voters  in  a  parish 
meeting.  They  are  now,  or  will  soon  be,  at  work  with 
their  minions.  The  deacon  knows  how  the  thing  is  done. 
They  will  do  here  as  is  done  in  other  places  when  the 
effort  is  made  to  dismiss  a  minister.  We  shall  have  mis- 


A   DONATION  PARTY.  371 

representation  and  lying  about  the  minister,  and  all  that 
species  of  conduct,  which  always  succeeds  in  prejudicing 
certain  minds  against  him." 

"  I  cannot  see  as  you  do,  husband,"  said  Mrs.  Clay.  "  I 
do  not  believe  that  our  people  will  ever  consent  to  part 
with  Mr.  Eldridge,  let  the  colonel  and  deacon  do  what 
they  may." 

"  I  hope  you  are  right,"  Mr.  Clay  replied  ;  "  but,  then,  I 
think  you  will  acknowledge  your  mistake  before  many 
months." 


CHAPTER    XXXIII. 

THE  PASTOR'S  VISIT  TO  HIS  NATIVE  TOWN. 

WITHIN  a  few  weeks  from  the  donation  visit  described 
in  the  preceding  chapter,  Mr.  Eldridge  was  called  to  his 
native  town  on  business  connected  with  the  settlement  of 
his  father's  estate.  He  was  thus  absent  three  weeks,  being 
detained  ten  days  beyond  the  period  at  which  he  contem- 
plated returning  when  he  left  home  by  an  unlooked-for 
concurrence  of  circumstances  which  transpired  to  oppose  a 
more  speedy  adjustment  of  the  business  which  it  was  his 
object  to  effect.  It  was  unfortunate  for  him  that  his  inter- 
est required  him  to  be  away  from  his  parish  at  this  particu- 
lar time,  when  the  colonel  and  the  deacon  were  beating  up 
volunteers  to .  a  war ;  for  they  had  a  far  more  favorable 
opportunity  for  succeeding  in  their  nefarious  object  with 
the  pastor  out  of  town  than  they  could  have  had  had  he 
been  among  his  people. 

Both  the  colonel  and  Deacon  Smith  now  acted  as  if  it 
was  their  purpose  to  effect  the  dismission  of  the  pastor. 
They  did  not  propose  this  publicly,  nor  at  first  even  pri- 
vately, to  those  with  whom  they  sought  opportunities  for 
conversing  on  parochial  matters  ;  but  they  so  expressed 
themselves  as  to  start  the  fear  or  apprehension  that  Mr.  El- 
dridge's  hold  on  the  affections  of  his  people  was  giving  way, 
and  th&t  perhaps  some  other  minister  might  better  unite  the 
parish,  and  consequently  be  more  generally  useful.  The  dea- 

(372) 


THE  PASTOR'S  VISIT  TO  HIS  NATIVE  TOWN.         373 

con  was  a  wary  man.  He  well  knew  that  he  had  unbounded 
influence,  and  it  was  not  his  purpose  to  do  any  thing  by 
which  this  should  be  diminished.  He  was  determined  to 
have  another  pastor,  and  it  was  no  very  easy  part  for  him 
to  act  —  insidiously  to  undermine  the  popularity  of  Mr.  El- 
dridge  without  the  discovery  of  any  that  such  was  his 
object.  Having  been  long  acquainted  with  his  pastor,  ho 
had  discovered  the  weaker  elements  of  his  character,  as 
all  men.  however  eminent,  have  these  ;  but  the  abounding 
excellences  which  the  pastor's  character  contained  having 
till  row  veiled  these  weaker  elements,  the  deacon  was 
not  in  the  habit  of  thinking  of  them,  and  was  never  known 
to  utter  a  word  by  which  it  could  be  conveyed  that  there 
was  any  thing  about  the  pastor  which  was  not  exactly  as  it 
should  be.  Now,  however,  the  deacon's  object  required 
that  the  whole  character  should  be  exposed ;  and  if  this 
only  had  been  attempted  there  would  have  been  nothing 
disclosed  that  would  in  the  least  have  taken  a  particle  of 
real  excellence  from  the  pastor  or  have  prejudiced  any 
mind  against  him.  Whilst  the  deacon  undertook  to  give 
certain  minds  which  it  was  his  desire  to  convert  to  hia 
way  of  thinking  some  new  light  on  Mr.  Eldridge's  public 
and  private  character,  he  went  beyond  the  boundaries 
which  real  truth  prescribed,  and  drew  to  his  aid  what  lay 
in  the  boundless  field  of  imagination,  conjecture,  and  mis- 
representation. He  did  not  do  this  directly,  so  that  any 
particular  remark  of  his  could  be  repeated  as  hostile  to 
Mr.  Eldridge ;  but  he  did  it  in  his  own  way,  coloring  a 
little  here,  and  making  it  light  a  little  there,  with  a  dex- 
tercus  stroke,  so  that  the  picture  would  appear  after  his 
own  desire,  and  yet  he  have  no  particular  part  in  its  draw- 
ing. We  all  know  that  this  is  often  done,  and  that  many 
a  character  has  been  thus  tarnished  when  it  would  be  diffi- 
cult to  charge  home  on  the  guilty  offender  the  ways  and 
the  means  adopted  to  effect  the  wicked  deed.  It  cannot 
32 


374  A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

be  disguised,  this  part  the  deacon  often  acted  to  prejudice/ 
the  people  against  the  pastor.  When  he  had  left  the  im- 
pression he  desired,  or  had  prepared  the  way  for  a  little 
further  development,  he  was  not  long  without  an  oppor- 
tunity for  striking  another  blow,  which  of  course  did,  as 
it  was  designed,  greater  execution  than  the  first  attempt. 
In  this  way  he  succeeded  with  some,  and  without  their 
consciousness,  too,  that  such  was  his  purpose,  in  alienating 
warm  affections  from  the  current  where  they  had  run  ten 
or  twenty  years,  and  making  it  cold  towards  the  pastor. 
The  way  would  thus  be  opened  for  more  direct  conversa- 
tion, which  would  be  commenced  by  others  than  the  dea- 
con, when  it  would  be  conjectured  that  he,  too,  was  not 
exactly  satisfied  with  Mr.  Eldridge,  and  that  some  other 
minister  would  better  please  him ;  and  so  the  subject  of  his 
dismission  began  to  be  agitated. 

Of  course  there  was  a  report  at  head  quarters  of  all 
conquests  and  of  all  circumstances  which  seemed  to  favor 
conquests.  It  would  then  be  in  the  way  for  Colonel  Pres- 
bury  or  some  one  else  to  follow  in  the  wake  of  the  deacon 
for  the  purpose  of  confirming  the  deacon's  converts  and 
assisting  others  leaning  in  the  desired  direction  to  fall 
and  be  in  full  ranks  with  the  deacon  and  his  company. 
Strange  as  it  may  appear,  after  this  kind  of  manoeuvring, 
in  the  short  space  of  a  few  weeks  many  individuals  who 
had  almost  worshipped  their  pastor  were  transformed  and 
made  ready  to  hail  another  minister.  "  The  deacon  of 
course  knows ;  and,  if  he  thinks  so,  there  must  be  some 
foundation ; "  and  so  after  the  deacon  many  went,  and 
with  him  as  their  guide  they  felt  safe. 

Before  the  return  of  Mr.  Eldridge,  the  small  parlor  at 
Colonel  Presbury's  where  the  first  meeting  of  the  mal- 
contents was  held  on  the  evening  of  the  donation  visit 
was  toe  strait  for  the  weekly  conclave,  the  number  had  so 
much  increased.  It  became  necessary  for  the  colonel  to 


THE  PASTOR'S  VISIT  TO  HIS  NATIVE  TOWN.         375' 

open  a  larger  room  to  accommodate  those  who  were  seek- 
ing the  good  of  Zion  and  the  welfare  of  Jerusalem.  It 
was  a  part  of  the  policy  to  invite  none  to  this  meeting 
until  there  was  complete  evidence  that  they  were  of  the 
right  stamp  ;  and  it  was  another  part  of  the  same  policy 
that  none  who  were  present  should  make  it  known  that 
these  meetings  were  held,  or  that  any  movement  was 
thought  of  for  disturbing  the  pastoral  relation.  None, 
therefore,  but  the  elect  were  aware  that  Mr.  Eldridge's 
foundations  were  being  shaken  ;  and  the  multitude  thought 
that  all  things  relating  to  him  were  as  prosperous  as  ever. 
So  it  is  that  a  pastor  thinketh  there  is  no  cloud  in  his 
horizon  and  the  people  at  large  see  nothing  but  a  bright 
and  cheering  firmament,  when  in  reality  a  terrible  storm 
menaces  and  shortly  appears,  confounding  and  distress- 
ing confiding  ones  and  those  who  have  long  been  happy 
under  his  various  ministry. 

Mr.  Eldridge,  while  lingering  in  his  native  town  to 
have  events  transpire  for  the  completion  of  the  business 
which  called  him  thither,  had  a  favorable  opportunity  to 
revive  former  friendships  and  to  know  all  about  the  things 
relating  to  the  church  and  parish  with  which  his  parents 
were  ^connected,  and  for  which  he  had  ever  cherished  the 
most  lively  interest.  He  had  not  been  long  in  the  place 
nor  seen  but  a  few  individuals  before  he  became  impressed 
that  every  thing  was  not  as  it  should  be  with  the  incum- 
bent of  the  pastoral  office  there.  When  he  first  began  to 
hear  from  the  lips  of  parishioners  the  sad  tale  of  their 
sorrows  and  disappointments,  he  received  their  recital 
with  distrust ;  for  he  was  too  wise  in  ecclesiastical  con- 
cerns to  be  ignorant  of  the  fact  that  a  faithful  pastor  is 
often  traduced. when  there  is  no  just  cause  on  which  to 
found  a  charge.  Indeed,  so  slightly  was  he  affected  by 
what  he  heard  that  he  did  not  for  some  time  admit  the 
possibility  that  the  sayings  of  the  people  could  be  true, 


376          A  VOICE  FEOM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

and  he  dismissed  them  from  his  mind  as  the  tales  of  scan- 
dal or  of  gross  misrepresentation.  However,  he  thought  at 
last  he  should  know  the  estimate  it  would  be  proper  to 
put  on  the  gossip  of  the  people  when  he  could  have  the 
happiness  to  arrive  at  Deacon  Babbit's ;  for  towards  this 
venerable  man  he  had  from  childhood  to  the  meridian  of 
life  had  the  greatest  respect  and  affection.  When  Mr. 
Eldridge  was  a  boy  the  name  of  Deacon  Babbit  ever  drew 
forth  homage  and  love  from  all  the  people  ;  and  the  years 
that  had  passed  since  only  increased  the  affection  and 
confidence  of  every  one  towards  him.  He  was  a  candid, 
guileless,  and  godly  man ;  a  man  who  honored  and  re- 
spected the  ministry,  and  one  who  ever  stood  up  with  a 
square  shoulder  for  the  pastors  who  had  been  settled  over 
the  people  with  whom  he  was  connected.  Not  only  for 
his  own  ministers  was  he  a  support,  but  for  all.  He  appre- 
ciated their  situation.  He  knew  its  difficult  and  perplexing 
character  ;  and  from  principle,  as  well  as  from  feeling,  he 
was  the  ready  advocate  of  the  minister.  By  reason  of  his 
influence  and  example  many  were  induced  to  tread  softly  by 
the  pastor's  door  and  to  make  it  as  pleasant  and  as  happy  for 
him  as  possible.  Could  they  who  have  been  his  ministers 
know  the  source  whence  many  a  benefaction  came  to  their 
abode,  could  they  know  why  it  was  that  gossip  about  the 
minister  and  his  family  was  of  such  a  slender  voice,  and 
even  that  so  unfrequently  raised,  then  would  they  know 
more  of  the  value  of  Deacon  Babbit.  If  all  the  good 
things  which  his  pastors  received  did  not  come  directly 
from  the  house  of  this  good  man,  it  must  be  confessed  the 
greater  part  of  them  would  never  have  been  carried  to 
the  parsonage  had  it  not  been  for  the  sentiments  it  was 
ever  his  practice  to  instil  into  the  people.  Deacon  Bab- 
bit was  not  thus  impelled  in  his  course  towards  ministers 
because  he  thought  they  were  perfect  men  and  unable  to 
do  wrong.  He  did  not  thus  think.  He  had  too  much 


THE  PASTOR'S  VISIT  TO  HIS  NATIVE  TOWN.         377 

good  sense  thus  to  think.  Deacon  Babbit  thought  minis- 
ters could  do  right,  and  that,  as  a  general  thing,  they  were 
full  as  consistent  as  other  men  ;  and  therefore  he  was  their 
friend  and  supporter.  He  was,  moreover,  urged  forward 
to  throw  around  them  his  shield  and  to  make  their  way 
pleasant,  because  he  considered,  they  were  engaged  in  a 
most  noble  work  and  had  to  struggle  against  peculiar  ob- 
stacles and  trials.  On  this  account  he  conceived  that 
ministers  were  entitled  to  the  support  and  sympathy  of  the 
people,  and  especially  of  those  who  were  the  professed 
disciples  of  the  great  Master  of  the  minister.  Because 
these  were  the  sentiments  of  Deacon  Babbit,  and  because 
they  commended  themselves  to  the  conscience  and  intelli- 
gence of  every  man,  he  had  great  influence  over  the  com- 
munity in  the  treatment  of  ministers.  Knowing  all  this, 
it  is  not  strange  that  Mr.  Eldridge  thought  it  would  be 
safe  for  him  to  form  a  judgment  of  the  rumors  that  had 
reached  him  respecting  the  present  pastor  after  he  should 
have  seen  Deacon  Babbit  and  heard  from  him  the  situation 
of  parochial  affairs. 

In  due  time  Mr.  Eldridge  paid  the  venerable  deacon  a 
visit.  Though  living  nearly  ten  years  beyond  the  ap- 
pointed age  of  man,  yet  it  was  not  manifest  that  the  inner 
man  was  old  and  enfeebled.  On  the  contrary,  all  there 
appeared  sprightly  and  in  vigor.  It  was  cheering  in  the 
extreme  to  Mr.  Eldridge  to  find  his  aged  friend  thus  ;  and 
it  was  a  greater  source  of  joy  to  him  still  to  find  him  the 
same  man  that  he  had  ever  been,  with  the  exception  of  the 
improvements  accorded  to  him  by  grace  and  wisdom. 

At  a  suitable  period  in  his  interview  with  the  deacon 
Mr.  Eldridge  alluded  to  some  of  the  rumors  which  he  had 
heard  since  his  arrival  in  town  touching  the  minister  of  the 
place. 

".Ah,"  the  deacon  said,  "then  they  have  been  filling 
your  ears  respecting  our  parish  matters.  I  am  sorry 
32* 


378  A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

the  people  here  are  so  imprudent  as  to  talk  so  much  about 
our  minister.  It  is  something  new  for  them  thus  to  do.  I 
have  thought  our  people  were  rather  different  in  this 
respect  from  many  parishes  ;  but  I  am  fearful  they  are 
losing  their  characteristic  prudence.  Some  of  the  young 
people  here  have  acquired  a  deep  prejudice  towards  the 
minister,  and  they  are  not  inclined  to  govern  their  feel- 
ings or  their  tongues  as  they  should.  They  are  to  blame, 
I  think,  as  well  as  the  man  against  whom  they  talk  so 
severely." 

"  I  am  pleased  to  hear  you  say  this,"  Mr.  Eldridge  re- 
marked. "  I  thought,  from  my  slight  acquaintance  with 
Mr.  Becket,  that  he  was  a  good  man  and  was  inclined  to 
do  good." 

"  Yes  ;  I  believe  our  pastor  to  be  a  good  man,"  the 
deacon  said,  "  and  I  think  he  wishes  to  do  good  ;  but, 
then,  the  young  people  and  others  have  some  cause  for 
being  dissatisfied,  I  really  think.  But  they  have  no  excuse 
for  talking  about  Mr.  Becket  as  they  do.  They  say  many 
things  which  are  utterly  false." 

"  Well,  deacon,"  Mr.  Eldridge  observed,  "  I  have  be- 
come somewhat  interested  since  I  have  been  here  in  your 
parish  matters,  and  I  should  like  to  hear  from  you  your 
opinion  of  Mr.  Becket's  course.  I  have  not  paid  much  at- 
tention to  what  has  been  told  me  ;  for  I  have  seen  that 
the  people  have  been  much  excited,  and  I  knew  that  all 
could  not  be  true  that  I  have  heard." 

"  No,  no,"  the  deacon  said  ;  "  not  half  of  it  is  true,  I 
dare  say.  As  I  said  before,  I  believe  our  minister  is  a 
good  man  ;  but  he  is  not  a  man  of  very  enlarged  views,  I 
think.  A  very  great  cause  of  the  trouble  here  has  arisen 
from  Mr.  Becket's  unwillingness  to  leave  his  old,  beaten 
track.  He  thinks,  I  should  judge  from  his  conduct,  that 
all  the  benefit  which  the  people  need  his  two  services  on 
the  Sabbath  are  fitted  to  impart.  Well,  I  have  no  doubt 


THE  PASTOR'S  VISIT  TO  HIS  NATIVE  TOWN.        379 

that  the  people  might  be  much  more  benefited  than  they 
have  been  if  they  had  made  it  their  business  to  derive  all 
the  good  in  their  power  from  Mr.  Becket's  preaching.  But 
I  really  think  he  has  been  unwise  in  not  having  meetings 
in  the  week  time  and  in  not  giving  the  younger  brethren 
an  opportunity  to  exercise  their  gifts.  That  is  what  they 
want.  They  desire  a  meeting  Sabbath  evening,  and  they 
want  one  or  two  meetings  during  the  week ;  and  I  think 
it  would  be  well  to  gratify  them." 

"  Certainly,"  said  Mr.  Eldridge ;  "  I  think  so,  decided- 
ly ;  and  I  am  astonished  that  Mr.  Becket  does  not  think 
so  too.  What  reason  can  he  give  for  not  having  such 
meetings  ?  " 

"  All  that  I  ever  heard  of  his  giving  was,  he  was  afraid 
of  excitement.  He  did  not  wish  to  have  the  people  be- 
come excited.  Now,  I  think  it  would  have  been  much 
better  for  the  pastor,  and  people,  too,  to  have  had  the  ex- 
citement occasioned  by  frequent  religious  meetings  than 
the  excitement  which  now  exists." 

"  There  can  be  no  doubt  of  that,"  Mr.  Eldridge  said. 
"  The  excitement  which  appears  now  I  should  take  to  be 
a  very  destructive  feeling  if  I  were  your  minister.  I  could 
not  reasonably  hope  to  be  instrumental  of  much  good 
whilst  it  continued." 

"  It  is  very  strange  that  Mr.  Becket  did  not  see  it,"  the 
deacon  remarked.  "  He  might  have  been  the  means  of 
allowing  much  good  to  be  done  had  he  encouraged  the 
young  men  and  others  who  were  for  making  efforts  for  the 
good  of  souls,  and  appointed  meetings,  so  that  they  could 
have  taken  a  part  in  the  services.  I  have  wondered  how 
he  could  conscientiously  refuse  to  have  these  meetings 
when  he  saw  how  strong  the  desire  was  for  them.  I  should 
have  thought  he  would  have  been  very  much  pleased  and 
encouraged  by  the  feeling  that  called  for  them,  and  have 
done  every  thing  in  his  power  to  make  them  interesting 
and  profitable." 


380  A  VOICE  FROM  THE   PARSONAGE. 

"  Has  he  never  had  more  than  two  services  on  the  Sab- 
bath?*7 Mr.  Eldridge  inquired.  "Has  he  never  had  any 
Sabbath  evening  meetings  or  conference  meetings  during 
the  week  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  sometimes,  after  he  had  been  beset  by  the 
people  to  appoint  more  meetings,  he  would  have  a  confer- 
ence meeting  Sabbath  evening  ;  but  he  would,  in  his  zeal 
to  prevent  excitement,  endeavor  to  do  away  the  effect  of 
the  exhortations  of  the  brethren  ;  and  this  only  made  the 
matter  worse.  Because  he  has  manifested  opposition  to 
what  the  brethren  have  said  at  these  meetings  they  have 
been  much  displeased." 

"  I  suppose  I  must  consider  all  this  true  of  Mr.  Becket," 
Mr.  Eldridge  remarked,  "because  you  are  the  witness, 
deacon.  Had  I  heard  the  same  elsewhere  I  should  have 
been  disposed  to  question  the  statement  somewhat." 

"  I  am  much  obliged  to  you,"  the  deacon  replied, "  for 
your  confidence.  I  never  intended  to  slander  any  one, 
and  especially  a  minister.  I  regret  exceedingly  that  the 
truth  requires  as  much  as  this  to  be  said  of  our  pastor. 
Had  he  been  more  ready  to  have  had  extra  meetings,  and 
treated  the  brethren  whose  pious  feelings  led  them  to  ask 
for  such  with  more  kindness,  I  think  the  cause  of  religion 
would  have  prospered  more  here  than  it  has." 

"Undoubtedly,"  Mr.  Eldridge  replied.  "Has  Mr. 
Becket  treated  with  unkindness  the  brethren  who  were 
anxious  that  greater  efforts  should  be  made  for  the  ad- 
vancement of  piety  here  ?  " 

"  I  fear  he  has,"  the  deacon  said.  "  Several  of  the 
brethren  have  repeatedly  told  me  that  he  treated  them  with 
great  coldness,  and  at  some  times  with  great  harshness. 
From  the  manner  in  which  I  have  heard  Mr.  Becket  speak 
of  these  brethren,  I  have  no  doubt  they  have  reason  for 
saying  what  they  do.  I  cannot  think  it  is  right  for  a  min- 
ister to  conduct  in  this  way.  It  is  wrong  to  offend  any 


THE  PASTOR'S  VISIT  TO  HIS  NATIVE  TOWN.        381 

man,  and  particularly  to  offend  those  individuals  who  are 
much  engaged  in  the  cause  of  religion,  for  no  other  reason 
than  that  they  are  thus  engaged  and  desire  to  have  all  feel 
as  they  do.  And  then,  again,  it  is  wrong  for  a  minister  to 
neglect  to  have  meetings  when  they  are  really  called  for 
by  the  people.  It  is  discouraging  to  pious  feeling,  and  it 
is  hindering  the  advancement  of  true  piety." 

"  That  is  very  manifest,"  Mr.  Eldridge  said  ;  "  and  I  am 
much  astonished  that  Mr.  Becket  has  not  seen  all  this 
himself." 

"  So  am  I,"  the  deacon  said.  "  I  have  often  wondered 
how  the  man  could  be  easy  to  see  things  going  as  they 
have  been  here  for  several  years  past.  We  have  had  no 
revivals,  and  but  a  very  few  have  been  added  to  the  church. 
The  congregation  on  the  Sabbath  has  been  dwindling 
away ;  and,  if  there  is  not  an  alteration  soon,  I  see  no  rea- 
son why  the  church  here  will  not  become  extinct  and  there 
be  no  interest  in  religion  whatever.  Already  several  fami- 
lies have  left  the  society  and  go  to  another  parish  to  meet- 
ing because  of  the  position  of  Mr.  Becket  in  relation  to 
progress ;  and  I  am  afraid  others  will  do  the  same  unless 
Mr.  Becket  either  alters  or  goes  away." 

"  Why  can  he  be  so  unwise,"  Mr.  Eldridge  inquired, "  as 
to  do  as  he  does  ?  Why  will  he  place  obstacles  in  the  way 
of  revivals  of  religion  and  of  the  general  progress  of  the 
church  and  parish?" 

"Sometimes  I  have  thought  our  brother  Addison  told 
the  truth  when  he  said,  '  Mr.  Becket  does  not  wish  for  a 
revival  here,  because  he  would  then  have  more  labor  to 
perform.  His  laziness  is  in  the  way.'  That  is  a  hard 
speech  ;  but  there  is  some  truth  in  the  remark.  I  think  Mr. 
Becket  is  rather  an  indolent  man  ;  but  I  never  say  so  here." 

"  He  cannot  expect  to  remain  here  long  if  he  is  aware 
the  people  feel  towards  him  as  you  represent,"  Mr.  El- 
dridge said. 


382  A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

"  He  has  been  told  how  people  feel  towards  him  ;  and  I 
should  think,  if  he  had  not  been,  he  would  think,  from  the 
empty  pews,  that  there  was  not  much  interest  in  him  among 
the  people,"  the  deacon  said. 

"  What  does  he  say  for  himself  when  he  is  informed  that 
there  is  a  desire  that  he  should  leave  ?  " 

"  I  am  informed,"  the  deacon  replied,  "  that  he  does  not 
make  any  conversation  whatever  with  those  who  have  in- 
formed him  of  the  state  of  feeling  here." 

"  How  long  since  the  first  intimation  was  given  him  of 
this  state  of  feeling  ?  " 

"  Between  three  and  four  years,"  the  deacon  said.  "  I  am 
told  by  some  of  the  brethren  that  they  have  bad  conversa- 
tion with  him  on  the  subject  very  often,  as  often  as  they 
dare  to,  and  that  it  amounts  to  nothing  at  all." 

"Does  he  never  converse  with  you  on  the  subject?" 

"No,  sir,"  the  deacon  said.  "He  never  alluded  to  any 
dissatisfaction  of  the  people  with  him  in  any  of  my  inter- 
views with  him  ;  and,  as  I  knew  he  was  informed  of  the 
matter,  I  have  thought  that  I  would  not  mention  the  sub- 
ject to  him.  Deacons  are  apt  to  run  before  they  are  sent  in 
these  matters  of  difficulty  ;  and  I  thought  I  would  be  still. 
I  never  yet  quarrelled  with  a  minister ;  and  I  am  now  too 
old  to  begin." 

"You  appear  to  have  some  knowledge  of  individuals 
who  hold  the  same  office  in  the  church  with  yourself,  I 
should  judge  by  this  last  remark,"  Mr.  Eldridge  said. 

"  What  do  you  refer  to,  sir?  —  my  saying  that  deacons 
were  apt  to  run  to  the  minister  who  has  difficulty  in  his 
parish  and  inform  him  that  it  is  time  for  him  to  ask  for  a 
dismission  before  they  are  sent  ?  " 

"  That  is  the  remark,"  Mr.  Eldridge  said. 

"  That  is  true,"  the  deacon  said.  "  I  have  known  of  a 
number  of  instances  of  ministers  being  dismissed  wholly 
for  such  a  reason.  People,  when  excited,  said  hard  things 


THE  PASTOR'S  VISIT  TO  HIS  NATIVE  TOWN.        383 

of  their  minister,  and  the  deacons  got  wind  of  their  say- 
ings, and  forthwith  reported  them  to  the  pastor.  Then 
the  "pastor  would  treat  these  individuals  with  coldness  and 
consider  them  enemies  j  and  in  this  way  alienation  would  be 
fomented,  and  the  end  would  be  dismission." 

"  I  see  you  understand  it,"  Mr.  Eldridge  said.  "  Dea- 
cons are  not  all  alike  ;  but,  then,  I  have  no  doubt  they  often 
make  matters  worse  by  their  interference" 

"  Yes,  yes  ;  that  they  do.  I  do  not  think  a  deacon  ought 
to  be  more  prominent  in  a  parish  difficulty  with  a  minister 
than  any  other  man.  For  my  part,  I  never  would  be  a 
catjs  paw  for  others" 

"  That  is  a  very  significant  expression,  deacon,"  Mr.  El- 
dridge said.  "It  expresses  the  idea  exactly.  People 
sometimes  wish  to  make  a  difficulty  with  their  minister ; 
they  are  ashamed  to  stir  in  the  matter  themselves,  and  so 
they  go  to  a  deacon  and  get  him  to  go  forward  ;  and  then 
they  stand  back  and  coolly  look  on,  and  it  may  be  exult 
over  the  folly  of  their  instrument." 

"  Yes,  Mr.  Eldridge,  it  is  often  just  so  ;  and  I  have  often 
wondered  that  deacons  would  be  made  tools  of  for  such 
infamous  purposes." 


CHAPTER    XXXIV. 

THE  PASTOR'S  HORSE. 

ALTHOUGH  Mr.  Eldridge  had  a  salary  equal  to  any  other 
clergyman  in  a  country  town,  —  although  his  people  had 
from  time  to  time  in  the  course  of  every  year  of  his  pas- 
torate made  him  generous  presents,  —  yet  the  aggregate 
of  his  receipts  by  no  means  relieved  him  from  the  necessi- 
ty of  rigid  economy.  He  was  one  of  those  individuals 
who  felt  it  to  be  a  sacred  duty  to  have  an  eye  out  for  tho 
future.  It  was  his  practice  to  lay  by  something  every 
year  which  could  be  called  to  his  aid  in  the  event  that  he 
should  be  laid  by  from  his  professional  labors  by  sickness 
or  by  age.  Then,  again,  he  had  a  rising  family  ;  and  he 
felt  bound  to  care  well  for  his  children  and  give  them  all 
a  thorough  education.  In  doing  this  he  was  at  no  small 
expense.  Two  of  his  sons  had  already  received  a  collegi- 
ate education,  and  his  daughters  had  been  absent  for 
years  in  attendance  upon  school.  So,  for  the  payment  of 
the  bills  accruing  from  these  sources,  it  is  apparent  no 
small  sum  would  ba  required.  Then,  again,  there  were 
the  calls  upon  him  by  the  benevolent  organizations  of  the 
age,  which  it  was  a  pleasure  and  a  privilege  to  him  to 
heed.  His  library,  too,  from  year  to  year  made  drafts 
upon  him  which  he  could  not  on  any  account  dishonor.  His 
health  required  of  him  that  he  should  at  times  relax  his 
severe  pursuits  and  seek  its  renewal  in  travel  ;  and  here 

(384) 


THE  PASTOR'S  HORSE.  385 

\ras  no  small  outlet  for  his  money.  In  addition  to  all 
these  expenses  must  be  mentioned  those  which  arose  from 
the  feeding  and  clothing  of  his  family  and  in  the  entertain- 
ment of  company,  with  which,  in  no  small  share,  he  was 
blessed.  The  manner  in  which  Mr.  Eldridge  met  these 
various  expenses  had  all  along  been  to  his  people  a  source 
of  pride  and  pleasure,  and  various  were  the  remarks  in 
approval  of  his  course  from  every  part  of  his  parish  which 
were  treasured  up  in  his  memory.  He  was  always  ap- 
plauded by  the  many,  and  never  loudly  condemned  by  the 
few,  for  his  economy  ;  and  this  trait  of  his  character  was 
almost  universally  regarded  as  one  of  great  value. 

It  is  to  be  remembered  that  parishioners  are  not  under 
bonds  to  continue  their  approval  of  excellence  in  their  pas- 
tor. There  is  a  right  reserved  suddenly  to  change  and  to 
condemn  as  strongly  as  it  was  ever  their  practice  to  ap- 
plaud. If  individuals,  therefore,  had  for  years  lauded  the 
pastor  for  his  economy,  it  is  no  marvel  if  they  turn  right 
about  and  condemn  the  man  for  his  meanness  and  con- 
tractedness.  "  It  is  all  fair  in  politics  ;  "  and  it  is  no  less 
so  in  ministerial  matters  when  the  object  is  to  displace  a 
faithful  pastor  to  gratify  the  caprice  or  the  will  of  a  fac- 
tious few,  who  are  determined  on  revenge,  or  who  have 
taken  it  upon  themselves  to  secure  another  minister  more 
to  their  own  particular  taste. 

A  minister  cannot  be  dismissed  without  cause  ;  that  is  a 
settled  matter.  If  a  people  should  be  guilty  of  such  an 
act,  they  would  receive  the  unmeasured  condemnation  of 
the  whole  community.  A  minister  cannot  be  dismissed 
without  ihf,  people  are  dissatisjied  with  him,  unless  he  chooses 
to  go  away  ;  then  if  a  few  wish  to  displace  him  they  must 
have  some  cause  —  they  must  show  dissatisfaction.  If 
there  be  none  to  exhibit,  some  must  be  manufactured  for 
the  purpose.  This  very  business  Deacon  Smith  and  Colo- 
nel Presbury  are  now  doing.  They  have  been  at  work 
33 


386         A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

hard  at  it  for  several  weeks,  as  the  reader  has  been 
apprised  in  preceding  chapters.  They  are  turning  their 
pastor  over  and  over.  They  are  going  back  to  his  ordi- 
nation, and  are  carefully  looking  over  every  succeeding 
year  in  search  of  something  out  of  which  to  manufacture 
material.  Contemptible  business,  the  reader  thinks.  No 
doubt  of  that  ;  but  it  is  a  fact,  notwithstanding ;  and  if 
the  business  was  confined  to  Mr.  Eldridge's  parish,  perhaps 
it  would  not  be  well  to  expose  it.  Charity  might  suppose 
it  would  be  repented  of  there,  and  fruits  worthy  of  repent- 
ance be  exhibited.  However,  this  business  is  not  thus  re- 
stricted. It  has  for  many  years  been  extensively  carried 
on  ;  and  the  fruits  thereof  are  many,  as  the  community  are 
well  aware. 

"  I  really  wish  our  minister  would  get  him  a  new  horse," 
said  Colonel  Presbury,  as  he  was  conversing  in  the  street 
with  Mr.  Bangs  whilst  Mr.  Eldridge  rode  by. 

"  Why,  what  is  the  matter  with  the  one  he  now  has  ?  " 
Mr.  Bangs  inquired. 

"  0, 1  think  that  horse  is  a  disgrace  to  the  parish,"  the 
colonel  replied  ;  "  and  I  have  heard  others  say  the  same." 

"  I  don't  know  about  that,"  Mr.  Bangs  said.  "  I  don't 
see  but  that  the  animal  looks  as  well  as  he  ever  did.  Mr. 
Eldridge  has  had  him  ten  or  twelve  years,  I  believe :  and  I 
never  heard  any  one  say  any  thing  against  him  before.1' 

"  Well,  I  have,"  the  colonel  said  ;  "  and  there  are  many 
who  feel  that  Mr.  Eldridge  does  not  do  right  to  drive 
such  a  horse  when  his  salary  and  presents  enable  him  to 
keep  a  better  one." 

"  Mr.  Eldridge's  horse  is  a  better  looking  animal  than 
half  the  horses  about  town,"  Mr.  Bangs  said  ;  "  and  he  is  a 
good,  faithful  old  creature.  If  I  was  in  Mr.  Eldridge's 
place  I  would  not  part  with  him.  Mr.  Eldridge  has  ways 
enough  for  his  money  without  buying  every  new  horse 
that  conies  along.  For  my  part,  I  am  glad  he  makes  his 


THE  PASTOR'S  HORSE.  387 

horses  last  so  long  ;  and  I  hope  the  one  he  has  now  will 
stand  him  these  five  years  yet." 

"  Don't  you  think,  Mr.  Bangs,  a  minister  ought  to  con 
suit  the  feelings  of  his  parish,  and  not  disgrace  thorn 
abroad  by  appearing  as  though  he  wasn't  half  supported  ?  " 

"  Why,  yes  ;  if  a  minister  has  a  good  salary  he  ought  to 
appear  respectably,  I  think.  Does  not  Mr.  Eldridge  ap- 
pear well  enough,  I  should  like  to  know  ?  " 

"  I  do  not  know  but  the  man  appears  well  enough  ;  but  I 
really  think  people  out  of  town  must  think  from  the  looks 
of  his  horse  that  we  don't  do  well  by  him." 

"  If  people  out  of  town,  think  so,  I  should  suppose  I 
should  have  heard  something  about  it  before.  I  am  in 
neighboring  towns  pretty  often,  and  I  often  hear  Mr.  El- 
dridge spoken  of,  and  well  spoken  of  too.  I  never  heard 
a  word  said  about  his  horse.  I  think  his  horse  is  good 
enough  for  him  or  for  any  one  else.  Mr.  Eldridge  can- 
not afford  to  be  fanciful  about  a  horse  or  any  thing  else. 
He  has  a  large  family  and  an.  expensive  one ;  and  I  think 
he  must  find  it  difficult  to  do  as  he  does  with  no  more  in- 
come than  he  has  from  our  people.  You  must  know,  colo- 
nel, eight  or  ten  hundred  dollars  don't  go  far  in  support- 
ing many  families  here  who  have  not  half  the  number  of 
necessary  calls  for  money  that  our  minister  has.  There's 
our  doctor,  with  but  two  children  ;  he  says  he  cannot  get 
along  without  spending  fifteen  hundred  dollars  a  year. 
I  don't  think  he  or  his  family  appear  any  better  than  our 
mininter  and  his  family.  As  for  the  doctor's  horses,  nei- 
ther of  them  is  so  good  an  animal  as  Mr.  Eldridge's." 

U0,  well,"  the  colonel  said,  "  the  doctor  is  not  supported 
by  the  parish,  and  he  can  do  as  he  pleases.  No  one  has 
any  right  to  interfere  with  his  matters." 

•'  I  don't  know,"  Mr.  Bangs  said,  "  as  any  one  has  any 
right  to  interfere  with  our  minister's  matters.  If  any  one 
earns  his  money  by  hard  work,  I  think  Mr.  Eldridge  does. 


388  A  VOICE  FROM  THE   PARSONAGE. 

For  my  part,  I  think  he  ought  to  be  better  paid  than  he 
is,  and  that  no  one  ought  to  find  fault  with  him  for  not 
having  a  more  expensive  horse,  or  for  any  thing  else.  I 
wonder  how  he  can  make  his  salary  go  as  far  as  he  does." 

After  a  few  other  remarks  Mr.  Bangs  and  the  colonel 
parted,  and  whilst  walking  along  Mr.  Bangs  met  Mr. 
Cummings,  when  the  latter  gentleman  immediately  said, — 

"  Mr.  Bangs,  have  you  been  called  on  to  give  any  thing 
towards  getting  a  new  horse  for  our  minister?" 

"  No  ;  I  have  not.  Are  they  going  to  give  Mr.  Eldridge 
a  new  horse  ?  I  have  not  heard  any  thing  about  it.  If 
he  wants  a  new  horse,  I  am  ready  to  do  my  part  to  give 
him  one  ;  but  I  think  his  present  horse  is  able  enough  yet 
to  do  all  his  business." 

"I  never  heard  any  thing  about  it  before  this  morning," 
Mr.  Cummings  said.  "  I  just  met  Deacon  Smith,  and  he 
said  some  of  the  people  thought  Mr.  Eldridge  had  driven 
his  horse  long  enough,  and  that  he  had  been  a  disgrace  to 
the  parish  ;  and  they  were  for  subscribing  to  procure  for 
him  one  which  would  be  a  respectable-looking  animal." 

" It  seems  to  me,"  Mr.  Bangs  said,  "some people  must  have 
opened  their  eyes  all  at  once.  I  have  just  been  conversing  with 
ColoneJ  Prcsbury,  who  has  been  running  out  at  great 
length  about  the  minister's  horse.  He  seemed  to  be  vexed 
that  Mr.  Eldridge  had*  no  more  regard  for  the  reputation 
of  the  parish  than  to  drive  such  a  horse.  Now,  it  seems 
Deacon  Smith  thinks  the  same.  I  should  really  like  to  know 
what  all  this  means.  I  have  never  heard  any  thing  said 
before  this  morning  that  the  minister's  horse  was  not  well 
enough.  He  certainly  looks  as  well  as  he  ever  did." 

"  I  don't  know  what  it  means,  I  confess,"  Mr.  Cummings 
said.  "  I  did  not  have  any  conversation  with  the  deacon 
about  the  matter.  I  was  in  much  haste,  and  did  not  stop 
to  hear  him  talk  two  moments.  I  thought,  however,  he 
had  a  queer  kind  of  a  look  with  him  when  he  asked  me  to 


THE  PASTOR'S  HORSE.  389 

subscribe  ;  and  now,  from  what  you  tell  me,  I  guess  lie.  was 
not  in  earnest  about  getting  up  a  subscription.  He  must 
have  been  joldng." 

"It  strikes  me  as  a  very  singular  circumstance,"  Mr. 
Bangs  said,  "that  Colonel  Presbury  should  talk  as  be 
did  to  me  about  the  minister's  horse,  and  that  Deacon 
Smith  should  begin  with  you  on  the  same  subject.  I  don't 
understand  it.  If  I  did  not  know  that  Deacon  Smith  was 
very  friendly  to  our  minister,  I  should  mistrust  that  there 
was  some  under  current  at  work  not  of  a  very  promising 
character." 

"  0,  there  can  be  nothing  of  that  kind,"  Mr.  Cummings 
said.  "  The  deacon  would  not  do  any  thing  to  prejudice  people 
against  our  minister.  You  know  how  well  he  likes  Mr. 
Eldridge." 

Here  the  conversation  was  interrupted  by  a  gentleman 
riding  up  to  converse  with  Mr.  Cummings.  Mr.  Bangs 
immediately  left  and  proceeded  homeward. 

In  a  day  or  two  from  this  period  Mrs.  Stimson  and 
Miss  Bemis  called  together  upon  Mrs.  Bangs  for  the  pur- 
pose of  soliciting  her  subscription  for  the  benefit  of  Mrs. 
Eldridge.  Mrs.  Stimson  remarked  that  there  had  been 
much  said  among  the  people  about  the  appearance  of  the 
minister  and  his  wife  ;  that  it  was  a  matter  of  mortifica- 
tion to  many  that  Mr.  Eldridge  drove  such  a  poor  horse, 
and  that  his  wife  had  worn  the  same  old  bonnet  and  shawl 
for  eight  or  ten  winters.  Many  individuals  have  thought 
that  the  salary  which  was  paid  the  minister  was  amply 
sufficient  to  enable  him  to  appear  respectably,  and  that,  as 
he  was  disposed  to  save  his  money  and  suffer  himself  and 
wife  to  go  looking  any  how,  it  was  time  he  had  a  hint  that 
the  people  were  not  very  well  satisfied  with  such  policy. 
The  gentlemen,  she  said,  were  going  to  give  him  a  new 
horse,  and  the  ladies  thought  of  presenting  Mrs.  Eldridgo 
with  a  new  shawl  and  bonnet. 
-33* 


390         A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

"  Dear  me ! "  Mrs.  Bangs  remarked.  "  I  am  perfectly  as- 
tonished. For  my  part,  I  did  not  know  but  that  Mrs.  El- 
dridge  had  a  new  bonnet  every  winter  ;  and  it  was  no  longer 
ago  than  yesterday  that  I  told  my  daughter,  as  I  saw  Mrs, 
Eldridge  passing  in  the  street,  that  I  did  not  perceive 
that  her  shawl  had  faded  in  the  least.  It  looked  as  well 
as  ever.  Now,  I  have  no  objection  to  making  Mrs.  El- 
dridge a  present,  —  I  should  be  happy  in  contributing  for 
such  an  object,  —  but  I  cannot  consent  to  give  at  this  time 
for  the  purpose  of  mortifying  my  valued  friend." 

"  We  thought,"  Miss  Bemis  observed,  "  that  almost 
every  lady  in  the  parish  would  be  ready  to  do  any  thing 
to  promote  the  respectability  of  the  town.  For  my  part, 
I  think  the  people  have  reason  to  be  displeased  at  the  neg- 
ligence manifested  by  the  pastor  and  wife  to  their  personal 
appearance." 

"  How  long  have  the  people  been  thus  sensitive  in  relation  to 
this  matter  ?  "  Mrs.  Bangs  inquired.  "  It  cannot  be  a  great 
while.  For  my  part,  I  never  heard  a  single  word  on  the 
subject  before.  If  there  had  been  any  discontent  at  the 
bonnet  and  shawl  of  Mrs.  Eldridge,  or  at  the  appearance 
of  Mr.  Eldridge's  horse,  it  seems  strange  that  I  never 
heard  of  it  before." 

"  Well,  there  is  much  dissatisfaction  in  respect  to  this 
matter,  I  assure  you,"  Mrs.  Stimson  remarked.  "  I  find  the 
ladies  willing  to  contribute  for  this  object ;  and  I  have  no 
doubt  Mrs.  Eldridge  will  have  a  new  bonnet  and  shawl  if 
you  do  not  subscribe." 

"  I  am  sorry,"  Miss  Bemis  said,  "  that  Mrs.  Bangs  is  will- 
ing to  have  her  minister's  wife  new  trim  her  bonnet  every 
•winter,  just  to  save  the  expense  of  purchasing  a  new  one. 
I  think  it  is  disgraceful  for  her  to  do  this." 

"  I  do  not  see,"  Mrs.  Bangs  remarked,  with  much  feeling, 
"  that  Mrs.  Eldridge  needs  any  hints  from  us  to  make  her 
more  particular  about  her  dress.  There  is  no  lady  in  town 


THE  PASTOR'S  HORSE.  391 

who  dresses  more  becomingly,  or  who  appears  more  neatly,  than 
Mrs.  Eldridge.  If  she  is  disposed  to  take  good  care  of 
her  things  she  is  to  be  commended,  and  I  have  often 
heard  her  commended  for  her  good  taste  and  for  her 
economy." 

Here  the  conversation  ended  by  the  entrance  of  Mrs. 
Clay,  who  had  called  upon  Mrs.  Bangs;  and  both  Miss 
Bemis  and  Mrs.  Stimson  withdrew. 

As  soon  as  Mrs.  Bangs  and  Mrs.  Clay  were  alone,  the 
former  related  the  conversation  of  the  two  ladies  who  had 
just  left ;  when  Mrs.  Clay  remarked,  under  the  influence 
of  the  most  painful  feelings,  — 

"  You  are  not  aware,  Mrs.  Bangs,  what  all  this  means. 
I  have  never  till  now  heard  any  thing  about  the  shawl  and 
bonnet ;  but  I  have  about  Mr.  Eldridge's  horse.  It  is  all 
the  same  thing,  I  have  no  doubt,  from  the  character  of  Mrs. 
Stimson  and  Miss  Bemis.  The  fact  is,  Mrs.  Bangs,  there 
is  an  effort  making  by  a  few  to  create  a  prejudice  against 
our  dear  pastor  and  have  him  dismissed." 

"  How  you  talk,  Mrs.  Clay  1 "  Mrs.  Bangs  said.  "  It 
cannot  be !  it  cannot  be  1 " 

"  I  have  known  of  this  for  some  little  time  past,"  Mrs. 
Clay  remarked,  "  and  I  have  no  doubt  that  we  are  to  have 
serious  trouble  here." 

Mrs.  Clay  then  rehearsed  the  conversation  she  had  with 
the  wife  of  Deacon  Smith  at  the  last  donation  party.  She 
remarked,  too,  that  her  husband  had  lately  heard  what 
Colonel  Presbury  and  Deacon  Smith  were  endeavoring  to 
do  in  relation  to  procuring  a  new  horse  for  the  pastor,  and 
then  said, — 

"  All  this  is  being  done  to  create  dissatisfaction  with  Mr. 
Eldridge.  Every  one  knows,"  she  said,  "  that  Mr.  Eldridge 
dresses  neatly  and  appropriately,  and  that  Mr.  Eldridge's 
herse  is  as  good  now  as  he  ever  was  —  that  he  looks  as 
well  as  ever.  There  is  no  more  reason  for  making  a  hue 


392         A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

and  cry  now  about  these  things  than  there  was  ten  years 
ago;  and  there  would  not  be  any  thing  said  about  them  but 
for  the  wicked  feelings  and  cruel  purpose  of  Colonel  Presbury 
and  Deacon  Smith.  Colonel  Presbury  acquired  a  preju- 
dice towards  Mr.  Eldridge  because  he  had  to  pay  a  pretty 
round  tax  to  settle  the  old  parish  debt  ;  and  this  prejudice 
was  increased  by  the  tax  he  had  to  pay  within  a  year  or 
two  for  the  repairs  of  our  meeting  house.  Deacon  Smith 
became  displeased  with  our  pastor  because  he  was  so  faith- 
ful with  his  son  Robert  and  tried  to  reclaim  him  and  make 
him  a  blessing  to  his  parents  and  the  community.  Mrs. 
Smith  is  almost  distracted  at  the  course  the  deacon  is  pur- 
suing. She  told  me  yesterday  that  it  appeared  to  her  that 
her  heart  would  break  if  her  husband  did  not  desist.  He 
has  no  reason  for  his  conduct.  Mr.  Eldridge  had  done 
nothing  but  his  duty,  and  she  felt  very  grateful  to  him  for 
his  fidelity  to  her  son." 

"  This  seems  but  a  dream,"  Mrs.  Bangs  observed.  "  It 
cannot  be  a  reality" 

"  It  is  distressing  to  think  of,"  Mrs.  Clay  said  ;  "  but  it 
is  a  reality.  They  are  now  at  work  to  separate  us  from 
our  beloved  and  faithful  pastor.  Colonel  Presbury,  Dea- 
con Smith,  Mr.  Dixon,  Mr.  Otis,  Miss  Bemis,  Mrs.  Stimson, 
and  a  number  of  others  are  doing  all  that  they  can  to 
alienate  the  people  from  Mr.  Eldridge.  They  don't  care 
a  fig  about  Mr.  Eldridge's  horse  or  about  Mrs.  Eldriclgc's 
bonnet  and  shawl.  They  seize  upon  these  for  a  pretext 
to  call  round  on  the  people  and  to  converse  about  the  pas- 
tor—  to  misrepresent  and  defame  him." 

"They  cannot  succeed,"  Mrs.  Bangs  stiid,  "surely  they 
cannot  succeed,  in  turning  the  hearts  of  this  people  from 
Mr.  Eldridge." 

"  I  thought  so  at  first,"  Mrs.  Clay  remarked  ;  "  but  now 
I  am  really  fearful  we  shall  have  to  part  with  our  pastor. 
Deacon  Smith  has  great  influence,  and  so  has  Colonel 
Presbury." 


THE  PASTOK'S  HORSE.  393 

"  Well,  they  will  both  lose  tJidr  influence  when  it  comes  to 
be  known  why  they  became  dissatisfied  with  Mr.  Eldridge," 
Mrs.  Bangs  remarked. 

"  They  jpught  to  lose  it,"  Mrs.  Clay  said.  "  Men  who 
will  act  from  such  motives  as  now  govern  the  deacon  and 
colonel  ought  not  to  have  any  influence  in  society,  I 
think." 

"  Do  you  think,"  Mrs.  Bangs  asked,  "  that  Mr.  Eldridge 
knows  any  thing  about  these  things  ?  " 

"  I  am  afraid  not,"  Mrs.  Clay  said.  "  Who  would  wish 
to  communicate  them  to  him?  He  ought  to  be  apprised 
of  the  movement  which  is  now  being  made.  My  husband 
has  thought  of  informing  him  ;  but,  then,  he  says  he  cannot 
summon  the  resolution  necessary  for  so  painful  a  duty. 
Deacon  Smith  and  Colonel  Presbury  are  very  shy  in  their 
movements,  and  I  presume  they  do  not  intend  to  have  the 
matter  made  public  till  all  things  are  right  for  their  object." 

"  It  will  not  be  possible  to  keep  this  movement  from, 
Mr.  Eldridge,"  Mrs.  Bangs  said. 

"  What  friend  of  our  dear  pastor  would  wish  to  divulge 
the  matter  to  him  ?  Would  you  ?  " 

"  0, 1  could  not,"  Mrs.  Bangs  said. 

"Neither  could  I,"  Mrs.  Clay  observed.  "He  must 
know  it  some  time  ;  but  I  presume  he  will  not  be  informed 
of  it  till  Colonel  Presbury  or  Deacon  Smith  do  it  them- 
selves." 

"  This  is  a  most  melancholy  affair,  truly,"  Mrs.  Bangs 
said.  "  To  have  a  minister  who  has  been  as  devoted  as 
Mr.  Eldridge  has  been  turned  off  merely  because  of  his 
fidelity  is  really  distressing  ;  but  I  cannot  believe  he  will 
leave." 

"  I  hope  he  will  not,  surely,"  Mrs.  Clay  said,  as  she  rose 
to  leave  j  "  but  we  must  prepare  ourselves  for  the  worst." 


CHAPTER    XXXY. 

THE   LOAD   OF  WOOD. 

THE  wife  of  an  eminent  clergyman  in  the  western  part 
of  Massachusetts,  an  amiable  and  lovely  woman,  whose 
name  we  would  give  but  for  a  promise  of  secrecy,  once 
said  to  a  friend  younger  than  herself,  who  was  likewise 
the  companion  of  a  minister,  — 

"  You  know  some  people  think  they  may  give  almost 
any  thing  to  a  minister  and  it  will  pass  for  a  present.  I 
have  frequently  had  things  given  to  me  which  I  would  not, 
on  any  account,  have  given  to  the  poorest  person  of  my 
acquaintance  for  whom  I  had  the  least  possible  regard." 

Any  one  at  all  conversant  with  pastoral  life,  doubtless, 
can  attest  to  the  truth  of  the  above  remark.  Whilst  it 
does  not  apply  to  the  majority  of  parishioners,  who,  when 
they  give  any  thing  to  a  pastor,  are  very  careful  to  have 
their  present  of  value,  yet  it  does  with  great  propriety  de- 
scribe the  manner  in  which  a  few  often  remember  their 
minister.  It  is  considered  fashionable  to  give  to  a  pastor, 
and  it  is  well  that  it  is  so  ;  for  the  salary  of  a  clergyman 
is  seldom  larger  than  to  meet  the  necessities  of  a  family 
graduated  on  the  most  economical  scale.  By  reason  of 
such  graduation  there  are  some  in  every  parish  who  think 
that  the  circumstances  of  their  minister  are  such  that  al- 
most any  article  of  clothing  or  species  of  food  would  not 
at  some  time  come  amiss.  In  the  gift  of  such,  some 

(394) 


THE   LOAD   OF  WOOD.  395 

parishioners  feel  that  they  are  real!}7  contributing  to  the 
comfort  of  their  pastor's  family  ;  though  what  they  give 
would,  but  for  such  destination,  be  cast  out  and  trodden 
under  foot. 

In  their  purchases  of  their  parishioners  it  not  unfre- 
quently  occurs  that  ministers  are  subjected  to  the  most 
fraudulent  impositions.  This  is  not  true  of  all  their  pur- 
chases ;  for  there  be  many  in  almost  every  parish  who  pre- 
fer when  they  sell  to  their  pastor  to  bring  forward  the 
most  excellent  of  their  material,  and  even  then  to  make  a 
liberal  abatement  on  the  price.  But  there  are  others  who 
take  a  different  view  of  the  situation  of  the  minister  and 
of  their  own  favored  opportunity  to  drive  a  good  bargain 
when  he  happens  to  call  to  make  a  purchase.  They  can 
comprehend  the  delicacy  of  the  pastor's  feelings.  They 
can  understand  the  danger  always  attendant  on  a  pastor's 
finding  fault  either  with  quality  or  measure.  They  often 
think,  too,  that  the  minister  is  not  a  judge  and  will  not 
notice,  and  so,  feeling  that  the  staif  is  altogether  in  their 
own  hands,  they  can  do  as  they  please,  and  that  will  be  the 
last  of  it. 

Mr.  Eldridge  had  some  such  parishioners  as  the  above 
last  described.  He  and  his  wife  doubtless  remembered 
them  long  ;  for  their  gross  and  fraudulent  impositions  were 
often  the  subject  of  their  conversation  when  they  were 
where  they  were  sure  no  one  could  overhear  their  excla- 
mations over  the  wrongs  which  had  been  done  them.  One 
of  these  individuals  we  must  bring  out ;  for  his  overreach- 
ing propensities  were  so  great  as  to  induce  Mr.  Eldridge, 
under  the  advice  and  urgency  of  friends,  to  deviate  from 
his  established  policy  and  demur  to  their  righteousness 
and  his  duty  to  patient  submission.  This  individual  had 
never  before  the  present  year  trafficked  much  in  the  neigh- 
borhood where  Mr.  Eldridge  lived.  The  produce  of  his 
farm  he  had  been  accustomed  to  carry  to  a  manufacturing 


396  A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

village  at  but  a  little  greater  distance  from  his  house  than 
was  the  residence  of  his  pastor.  He  had  not  been  much 
known  as  a  trader,  though  he  was  considered  a  respecta- 
ble man  and  a  man  of  influence.  Having  cut  off  a  large 
quantity  of  wood,  and  consequently  wishing  to  dispose  of 
the  same,  and  the  manufacturing  village  before  alluded  to 
being  now  a  dull  market  in  consequence  of  the  embar- 
rassments of  trade,  Mr.  Conner  sought  a  market  for  his 
wood  in  "the  centre?'  and  he  succeeded  in  disposing  of  a 
large  quantity.  Mr.  Eldridge  had  noticed  his  wood  in 
different  door  yards,  and,  being  pleased  with  its  quality, 
thought  it  might  be  well  for  him  to  look  to  Mr.  Conner 
for  his  supply.  Accordingly  he  did  so,  and  stipulated  for 
the  number  of  cords,  quality,  and  the  price,  the  same  as 
others  paid.  Soon  the  wood  began  to  appear  ;  and  as  the 
first  few  cords  were  thrown  off  it  appeared  as  well  as  any 
Mr.  Conner  had  brought  to  the  centre.  Mr.  Eldridge  was 
well  pleased  with  it  and  manifested  his  satisfaction.  • 
Soon,  however,  Mr.  Eldridge  noticed  that  the  quality  of 
the  wood  began  to  depreciate.  More  small  sticks  and 
crooked  ones,  too,  began  to  appear ;  and,  as  the  last  cords 
were  being  thrown  off,  the  difference  was  so  perceptible 
as  to  excite  from  the  youngest  son  of  the  pastor,  a  child 
of  eight  years,  the  inquiry  of  his  father  why  he  did  not 
have  all  his  wood  alike.  When  Mr.  Conner  came  with 
the  last  load,  Squire  Davidson  and  his  son  Charles  were 
in  the  parsonage.  It  being  a  pleasant  day,  the  squire 
thought  it  might  be  for  his  health  and  comfort  to  ride  a 
little  distance  ;  and  so  he  made  it  in  his  way  to  call  on  his 
pastor.  After  Mr.  Conner  had  gone  Mr.  Eldridge  and 
his  friends  walked  out  into  the  garden,  and  in  returning 
to  the  house  they  came  up  by  the  wood. 

"You  have  two  kinds  of  wood,  I  see,"  Mr.  Charles  Da- 
vidson observed.  "I  suppose  you  consider  it  economical 
to  buy  some  small  wood,  as  it  comes  at  half  price." 


THE  LOAD   OF   WOOD.  397 

"No,"  Mr.  Eldridge  replied,  "  I  do  not.  All  the  wood 
I  have  had  of  Mr.  Conner  has  been  of  one  price." 

"Well,"  said  Mr.  Davidson,  "you  do  not  mean  to  say 
that  you  give  the  full  price  for  large  and  small  wood  ?  " 

"  Certainly  I  do,"  Mr.  Eldridge  replied. 

"How  much  do  you  give  for  your  wood?  "the  squire 
asked. 

"I  agreed  to  pay  five  dollars  the  cord." 

"  You  do  not  expect  to  give  five  dollars  for  that  cord 
Mr.  Conner  has  just  left,  do  you?"  the  squire  asked. 

"  Of  course  I  do,"  Mr.  Eldridge  replied  ;  "  though  I  do 
not  think  I  ought  to  give  it.  My  wife  has  been  telling  me 
now  for  a  number  of  days,  when  Mr.  Conner  has  been 
throwing  of  so  much  little  and  crooked  wood,  that  I  ought 
to  speak  to  him  about  it  and  let  him  know  that  I  notice  it ; 
but  I  have  not,  neither  do  I  think  I  shall.  It  would 
probably  displease  Mr.  Conner." 

"Well,"  said  both  the  squire  and  his  son,  "you  ought 
not  to  pay  full  price  for  this  wood.  Not  more  than  half, 
if  there  be  half,  is  merchantable  wood  ;  and  you  owe  it  to 
yourself  and  family  to  see  to  it  that  you  do  not  pay  for 
the  trashy  stuff  the  same  that  you  would  have  to  pay  for 
first-rate  wood.  Five  dollars  a  cord  is  the  top  price  ;  and 
wood  ought  to  be  first  rate  to  bring  this  sum." 

Mrs.  Eldridge  overheard  this  remark  at  her  window 
where  she  was  sitting,  and  soon  she  came  out  into  the  yard  ; 
and  let  it  be  known  that  she  was  aware  of  the  subject 
upon  which  the  gentlemen  were  conversing,  and  that  she 
•was  happy  to  find  that  the  squire  and  his  son  so  well 
agreed  with  her  in  opinion  as  to  Mr.  Eldridgc's  duty. 

"Should  I  now  say  to  Mr.  Conner,"  Mr.  Eldridge 
observed,  "that  I  thought  he  ought  not  to  exact  of  me  full 
price  for  this  wood,  I  have  no  doubt  he  would  feel  himself 
injured.  It  will  not  do  for  a  minister  to  find  fault  with  his 


people." 


34 


398  A  VOICE  FROM  THE   PARSONAGE. 

Both  the  squire  and  his  son  urged  Mr.  Eldridge,  when 
Mr.  Conner  called  for  his  pay,  as  he  would  the  next  day, 
to  object  to  paying  five  dollars  per  cord  for  all  that  wood. 
They  said  so  much,  and  were  fortified  so  entirely  by  the 
eloquence  of  the  good  wife  in  the  matter,  that  the  pastor 
finally  passed  his  word  that  he  would  deviate  from  the 
course  he  had  practised  hitherto,  and  stand  out. 

The  next  day,  as  was  expected,  Mr.  Conner  called  and 
presented  his  bill  for  twelve  cords  of  wood,  at  five  dollars 
the  cord.  Mr.  Eldridge  took  the  paper  and  held  it  some 
time  before  he  made  any  remark.  At  length  he  said,  — 

"  I  have  supposed,  Mr.  Conner,  that  five  dollars  for  all 
this  lot  of  wood  was  more  than  a  fair  price." 

"  You  agreed  to  give  five  dollars  a  cord ;  and  I  suppose 
there  is  nothing  more  to  be  said  upon  the  subject,"  Mr. 
Conner  replied. 

"  Yes,  sir ;  I  agreed  to  give  that  price,  I  acknowledge  ; 
but,  then,  I  expected  that  you  would  bring  me  wood  which 
is  worth  that  price,"  Mr.  Eldridge  said. 

"  Well,  Mr.  Eldridge,  you  can  pay  me  for  the  wood  as 
you  agreed  or  not,  as  you  please,"  Mr.  Conner  said,  taking 
up  his  hat  and  preparing  to  go  out. 

"I  do  not  think  it  to  be  my  duty  to  pay  five  dollars  per 
cord  for, the  entire  lot,"  Mr.  Eldridge  said.  "The  first 
four  or  five  cords  you  left  was  very  good  wood  ;  but  the 
last  loads,  seven  or  eight  of  them,  have  been  a  very  differ- 
ent article.  I  think  you  must  have  noticed  a  difference 
yourself,  Mr.  Conner." 

"  I  understand  you  to  say,  sir,  that  you  will  not  pay  me 
for  the  wood  what  you  agreed  to  pay,"  Mr.  Conner  said. 

"  Yes,  sir,  I  think  I  shall  not  pay  you  to-day  sixty  dol- 
lars for  that  lot  of  wood." 

Upon  this  declaration  Mr.  Conner  took  his  hat  and  very 
abruptly  went  from  the  house  of  Mr.  Eldridge  under  tho 
influence  of  the  highest  excitement. 


THE   LOAD   OF  WOOD.  399 

Mrs.  Eldridge,  hearing  the  outer  door  violently  close, 
hastened  from  her  apartment  to  ascertain  .  the  cause.  As 
she  reached  the  door  and  opened  it  she  saw  Mr.  Conner 
at  a  little  distance  from  the  house,  walking  with  the 
greatest  swiftness.  She  then  entered  the  room  where  her 
husband  was  sitting  and  remarked  at  once,  — 

"  Mr.  Conner  has  gone,  then ;  and  I  should  think,  from 
the  way  he  walks,  he  is  in  great  haste." 

"He  moved  out  here  just  now,  with  some  velocity,  I 
thought,  and  shut  the  outer  door  with  some  force  too,"  Mr. 
Eldridge  observed.  "Mr.  Conner  is  very  much  excited  ; 
and  I  am  sorry  almost  that  I  manifested  any  dissatisfac- 
tion with  the  wood.  He  is  very  much  displeased,  and 
doubtless  will  be  an  enemy  to  me." 

"  I  think,  my  dear,  it  would  have  been  decidedly  wrong 
in  you  to  have  paid  that  man  as  much  for  the  wood  he  left 
here  as  you  would  have  to  pay  for  good  wood.  I  don't  think 
you  know  how  miserable  some  of  it  is.  I  have  been  try- 
ing this  morning  to  make  a  fire,  and  the  wood  is  so  soggy 
that  I  have  had  much  difficulty.  I  should  think  it  must 
have  lain  in  Mr.  Conner's  swamp  these  five  years.  I  don't 
believe  half  of  this  lot  of  wood  has  been  cut  within  'a 
year,  as  you  said  Mr.  Conner  told  you  it  had  been." 

"  I  should  not  be  at  all  surprised,"  Mr.  Eldridge  re- 
marked, "if  he  had  picked  up  the  last  loads  he  brought 
here  in  different  places  on  his  farm.  I  noticed  that  much 
of  it  looked  like  old  wood  that  had  been  cut  some  time." 

"  Well,  I  hope,  husband,  you  never  will  pay  him  any  more 
than  the  wood  is  worth.  I  think  you  have  been  imposed 
upon  as  much  as  you  ought  to  have  been  ;  and  undoubt- 
edly every  one  knows  that  you  take  any  thing  people  have 
'  a  mind  to  bring  you,  and  pay  just  what  they  ask,  without 
saying  a  word.  I  presume  Mr.  Conner  thought  you  would 
not  notice  that  the  wood  was  not  what  it  should  have  been, 
arid  that  he  could  get  a  good  round  price  out  of  you  for 


400  A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

wood  that  he  could  hardly  sell  any  where  else.  I  think 
you  ought  before  this  to  have  let  people  know  that  you 
were  not  to  be  imposed  upon.  It  would  have  been  money 
in  your  pocket,  besides  being  the  means  of  giving  us  often 
much  better  articles  than  we  have  had.  You  remember 
the  apples  Mr.  Otis  sold  you  last  year  for  first-rate  Rhode 
Island  greenings,  don't  you,  and  how  nicely  they  were 
barrelled  up  for  you,  and  how  Mr.  Otis  told  you  they 
would  not  need  picking  over  till  midwinter  ?  You  know 
that  we  did  not  touch  them  till  the  first  of  January  ;  and 
then,  as  we  had  some  company  that  day,  we  thought  we 
would  get  our  best  apples  ;  and  you  remember  how  they 
looked  —  little  things,  no  more  like  greenings  than  they 
were  like  oranges,  and  at  the  bottom  of  the  barrel  there 
was  not  a  sound  apple  to  be  seen." 

"  0,  yes,  wife,"  Mr.  Eldridge  said,  laughing  most  heartily 
at  the  remembrance  and  the  earnestness  of  his  wife  in  the 
matter  ;  "  0,  yes  ;  I  remember  the  apples." 

"  Well,  now,  Mr.  Otis  knew  that  he  could  get  three  dol- 
lars a  barrel  out  of  you  for  those  apples  as  well  as  not. 
He  knew  they  were  nothing  but  cider  apples  when  he 
brought  them  here.  I  wish  I  had  had  them  opened  at  the 
time  he  left  them,  and  had  let  him  know  that  I  could  tell 
a  Rhode  Island  greening  from  a  snarly  cider  apple." 

"  0,  well,  wife,  we  had  better  submit  to  all  these  things 
quietly  than  make  a  fuss  and  displease  our  parishioners." 

"  I  think  ministers  ought  not  to  bear  all  things,"  Mrs. 
Eldridge  said.  "  If  they  would  now  and  then  let  it  be 
known  that  they  understood  the  nature  of  trading,  and 
could  tell  a  turkey  from  a  goose,  I  think  they  would  not 
be  so  often  imposed  upon." 

****** 

In  the  afternoon  Mr.  Eldridge  and  wife  visited  at  Squire 
Davidson's.  The  squire,  on  the  day  preceding,  informed 
them  that  he  expected  two  or  three  clergymen,  with  their 


THE   LOAD   OF   WOOD.  401 

wives,  and  some  other  company  from  out  of  town,  and  it 
would  add  much  to  the  pleasure  of  the  party,  he  had  no 
doubt,  if  his  pastor  and  lady  should  be  with  them.  When 
Mi*,  and  Mrs.  Eld  ridge  arrived  it  was  somewhat  late  in 
the  afternoon,  as  they  were  detained  by  the  unexpected 
call  of  some  friends  from  abroad.  On  entering  the  par- 
lor, they  were  somewhat  astonished  to  notice  a  larger 
number  of  visitors  than  they  had  anticipated  ;  but,  as 
most  of  the  part}^  were  old  friends,  it  was  a  matter  of  very 
great  pleasure  to  them  to  meet  so  many. 

Whilst  Mr.  Eldridge  was  conversing  with  Mr.  Charles 
Davidson  in  the  evening,  the  latter  gentleman  alluded  to 
the  wood  about  which  so  much  was  said  when  he  was  at 
Mr.  Eldridge's  with  his  father  on  the  preceding  day. 

"  Have  you  seen  Mr.  Conner  yet  ?  " 

"  0,  yes  ;  he  called  at  our  house  this  morning  and  pre- 
sented me  with  his  bill  for  twelve  cords  of  wood,  at  five 
dollars  per  cord." 

"  Well,  you  did  not  pay  it,  I  hope,"  Mr.  Davidson  said. 

"No,  sir  ;  I  have  not  paid  it ;  but  I  rather  think  I  shall. 
I  think  it  would  be  better  for  me  to  do  it  than  to  have 
any  difficulty  about  it." 

"  I  would  not  on  any  account  pay  that  price  for  all  that 
wood.  Father  and  I  have  talked  about  it  considerably 
since  we  were  at  your  house  yesterday,  and  he  thinks  it 
would  be  wrong  in  you  to  do  so.  Mr.  Conner  could  not 
recover  half  price  for  two  thirds  of  the  entire  lot.  Do 
you  think  he  could,  father  ?  " 

The  old  gentleman,  though  sitting  near,  and  was  sup- 
posed by  the  son  to  know  the  subject  of  their  conversa- 
tion, but  did  not,  responded,  — 

"  What  was  your  question,  Charles  ?  " 

"  I  thought  you  were  aware  that  Mr.  Eldridge  and  I 
have  bee  i  conversing  about  Mr.  Conner's  wood,  and  I 
34* 


402         A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

aslced  you  your  opinion  ;  but  it  seems  you  have  not  been 
listening  to  our  conversation.'' 

"  No,  no,"  the  squire  observed,  drawing  his  chair  up  to 
Mr.  Eldridge  ;  "  no,  I  have  not  heard  a  word." 

"  Mr.  Conner  has  presented  his  bill,"  the  son  remarked, 
and  Mr.  Eldridge  declines  paying  five  dollars  a  cord  for 
the  whole  lot." 

"  He  does  right,"  the  squire  said  ;  "  yes,  Mr.  Eldridge, 
you  have  done  right.  Mr.  Conner  ought  not  to  take  ad- 
vantage of  his  minister  as  he  has  done." 

The  squire,  giving  utterance  to  this  remark  with  much 
energy,  was  heard  by  the  whole  company,  and  there  seemed 
to  be  a  general  desire  to  be  acquainted  with  the  history 
of  this  matter.  As  the  clergy  was  somewhat  largely  rep- 
resented in  the  company,  it  was  perfectly  natural  for  such 
a  desire  to  be  excited  by  any  thing  connected  with  im- 
proper treatment  of  a  minister.  Mr.  Davidson  at  once 
gave  a  history  of  the  whole  transaction  about  the  wood, 
and  closed  by  saying, — 

"  I  think  ministers  ought  to  stand  up  for  their  rights, 
and  then  they  would  not  be  imposed  upon  as  they  now 
often  are." 

"  I  agree  with  you  in  that  remark,"  Mr.  Sandford  ob- 
served. "  I  think  self-respect,  if  nothing  else,  requires  our 
profession  to  let  it  be  known  sometimes  that  we  are  not  all 
fools  in  the  matter  of  trade,  and  that  we  know  when  we  are 
honorably  and  honestly  dealt  by  and  when  we  are  defrauded. 
I  have  suffered  somewhat  after  the  manner  of  brother  El- 
dridge, though  on  a  smaller  scale.  Last  winter  the  runners 
of  my  sleigh  gave  out,  and,  as  I  did  not  feel  able  to  buy  new 
ones,  I  thought  I  would  make  a  little  eifort  to  got  a  set 
that  had  been  used  some.  To  my  inquiries  after  such,  I 
was  at  length  directed  to  a  certain  individual  in  my 
parish  who  was  known  to  have  such  articles.  I  called 


THE   LOAD   OP   WOOD.  403 

upon  this  man,  a  member  of  my  church,  for  whom  I  had 
much  regard,  and  who  always  professed  to  be  a  great 
friend  to  me.  He  told  me  that  he  had  lately  sold  a  set  of 
runners  ;  '  but,'  said  he,  '  I  have  a  sleigh  which  I  will  sell 
you  for  the  same  price  that  I  should  ask  for  the  runners 
alone.'  Well,  I  went  with  him  to  look  at  it,  and  ascer- 
tained his  price.  '  Now,'  he  said,  '  you  have  here  a  good 
top,  which  I  give  you,  and  the  runners  I  only  ask  six  dol- 
lars for.'  Well,  I  thought  the  top  was  better  than  mine, 
and  so  I  concluded  to  purchase  ;  and  I  paid  him  six  dol- 
lars and  took  the  sleigh  home.  I  had  not  driven  a  quar- 
ter of  a  mile  from  the  man's  house  before  I  was  met  by 
one  of  my  people,  who  informed  me  that  he  had  been  of- 
fered, the  day  before,  the  same  sleigh  by  the  same  individ- 
ual of  whom  I  purchased  it  for  four  dollars  ;  but  he  did 
not  think  it  worth  even  that." 

After  a  hearty  laugh  all  round,  Mr.  Patterson  remarked 
that  he  had  some  experience  of  the  same  kind  of  good 
feeling,  which  he  would  rehearse  for  the  amusement  of  the 
company. 

"  When  I  left  the  place  where  I  was  first  settled  I  sold 
off  many  of  my  things,  and  there  remained  only  one  article 
to  be  disposed  of ;  and  this  was  in  my  barn  cellar.  My 
deacon  lived  the  next  house  to  mine,  and  I  asked  him  if  he 
did  not  wish  to  purchase.  He  said  he  did  ;  and  so  he 
came  over  and  looked  at  the  heap  and  asked  me  my  price. 
I  told  him  I  was  no  judge,  and  that  I  would  leave  the 
worth  of  it  to  him.  He  told  me  he  thought  there  were 
two  cords  of  it,  and  he  would  give  me  ten  dollars.  '  Well,' 
said  I,  '  deacon,  if  you  think  that  is  all  it  is  worth,  you 
may  have  it.'  He  said  he  would  be  up  the  next  day  and 
pay  me  for  it.  He  had  not  been  gone  from  the  barn  two 
hours  before  another  individual  called  who  resided  'four 
miles  from  my  house.  As  he  and  I  were  walking  about 
the  premises,  looking  about,  he  cast  his  eye  under  the 


404  A   VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

barn  and  discovered  the  manure  heap,  and  immediately 
asked  what  I  was  intending  to  do  with  it.  I  asked  him 
to  look  at  it  and  tell  me  what  he  judged  it  to  be  worth. 
He  accordingly  did,  and  said  there  were  nearly  three 
cords,  and  that  he  would  give  me  fifteen  dollars  for  it. 
'  Well,'  said  I,  '  I  have  sold  it  to  the  deacon  yonder  for  ten 
dollars  ;  but  I  presume  he  will  not  hold  me  to  the  bargain 
if  I  tell  him  what  you  say.'  '  Well,'  he  said, '  I  will  give  you 
fifteen  dollars  for  it  if  the  deacon  don't  take  it.'  I  imme- 
diately went  to  the  deacon's,  told  him  the  offer  I  had  just 
received,  and  asked  him  to  release  me  from  the  sale.  But 
he  would  not  do  it,  and  did  not  do  it,  though  he  was  a 
forehanded  man,  and  knew  that  I  needed  every  dollar  I 
could  possibly  command." 

After  Mr.  Patterson  had  finished  this  recital  there  was 
a  pretty  general  pouring  forth  of  animadversion  upon  such 
ungenerous  and  unchristian  treatment  of  ministers.  The 
opinion  seemed  to  prevail  among  the  company  that  the  man 
who  would  treat  a  clergyman  thus  might  be  guilty  of  far 
worse  deeds.  When  remark  on  this  subject  seemed  to  be 
exhausted,  Mr.  Davidson  observed,  "  Perhaps  some  of  the 
other  clergymen  present  can  give  us  their  experience  on 
the  matter." 

"  Don't,  Charles,  don't  call  for  more  such  facts.  I  am 
mortified  now  very  much  by  what  has  already  been  said 
of  the  disposition  of  people  to  take  advantage  of  minis- 
ters, and  I  do  not  want  to  hear  any  thing  more." 

"  What  is  said  does  not  alter  matters  in  the  least, 
father,"  Charles  replied.  "  For  my  part,  I  want  to  see  the 
'  whole  critter,'  as  the  man  said.  I  should  really  like  to 
hear  the  other  ministers'  account  of  their  experience,  if 
they  have  any  to  give." 

"  0,  well,  if  they  are  disposed  to  gratify  you,  I  will  not 
make  any  objection,"  the  squire  remarked. 

Mr.  Bullard,   a  lawyer,  was  present ;   and,  from  the 


THE  LOAD  OF  WOOD.  405 

manner  in  which  he  appeared,  it  was  evident  that  he  had 
something  to  say  touching  the  subject ;  and,  to  help  his 
friend  Mr.  Davidson  draw  out  from  the  other  ministers 
present  what  was  in  their  power  to  communicate,  he  said, 
"  After  the  clergymen  have  done,  I  have  a  fact  or  two  to 
relate  on  the  same  subject."  So  Mr.  Fletcher,  being 
directly  asked  if  he  had  not  something  to  offer,  proceeded 
to  say  that  he  had  hitherto  escaped  being  the  victim  of 
such  undue  advantage  as  had  been  taken  of  the  others 
who  had  preceded  him.  "  But  what  has  been  said  here  this 
evening  reminds  me  of  the  case  of  brother  Anderson,  who 
preached  for  a  few  years  near  me  in  the  next  town.  I 
have  heard  him  and  his  wife  tell  the  story  with  consider- 
able feeling  ;  and  no  wonder.  They  did  not  keep  house, 
but  boarded  ;  and  they  were  somewhat  troubled  to  get 
suitable  accommodations,  'and  so  they  changed  pretty 
often.  Brother  Anderson  became  tired  of  this  changing 
quarters  so  frequently  that  he  came  to  the  determination 
that  if  he  could  not  have  a  steady  boarding-place  he  would 
leave  the  place.  When  his  year  was  up  he  told  the  com- 
mittee of  the  parish  that  he  must  be  provided  with  a 
boarding  place  for  a  year,  if  he  made  another  engagement 
to  preach.  At  last  a  place  was  found.  The  family  were 
pleased  with  the  opportunity  of  having  the  minister  and 
his  wife  of  their  number.  The  terms  were  arranged,  and 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Anderson  went  to  their  new  home.  By  the 
contract,  they  u:ere  to  remain  for  one  year  from  April,  and 
Mr.  Anderson  was  to  have  the  gratuitous  i?je  of  the  horse 
and  carriage  when  either  were  not  wanted  by  the  other 
members  of  the  family.  Three  months  did  not  pass  before 
the  man  with  whom  Mr.  Anderson  boarded  sold  his  horse  ; 
and  then,  when  he  exchanged  or  wished  to  visit  remote 
parts  of  the  town,  he  was  obliged  to  hire  ;  and  when 
cold  weather  came,  and  the  evenings  were  of  some  length, 
it  became  inconvenient  for  the  family  longer  to  aceoui- 


406  A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

modate  the  minister.  '  They  had  us,'  Mr.  Jlndcrscn  said, 
'  when  there  was  no  expense  for  fuel  and  lights ;  but  when 
these  were  necessary  it  became  inconvenient  to  accommo- 
date us  ;  and  so  I  had  to  look  up  another  boarding  house 
and  to  pay  a  higher  price.'  Mr.  Anderson  said  he  had  no 
doubt  the  family  designed  to  get  a  good  price  for  summer 
board  by  agreeing  to  accommodate  them  for  the  year,  and 
he  regretted  that  he  had  been  the  means  of  having  his 
landlord  sell  his  horse" 

"  That  was  a  pity,"  Mrs.  Patterson  remarked. 

All  eyes  were  now  directed  to  the  lawyer  ;  but  he  said 
his  time  had  not  come  yet;  there  were  one  or  two  more 
clergymen  to  speak.  "  Come  Mr.  Murray,  you  have  some- 
thing to  communicate,"  he  said. 

"  Nothing,"  Mr.  Murray  said,  "  from  my  own  experi- 
ence ;  but  as  Mr.  Bullard  seems  determined  not  to  give 
his  story  till  all  have  spoken,  I  will  say  something  to 
draw  him  out."  So  he  remarked,  "I  exchanged,  a  few 
Sabbaths  ago,  with  a  brother  who  is  preaching  about 
twenty-five  miles  from  me.  Mr.  Lesly,  when  he  proposed 
tlte  exchange,  remarked  that  it  was  a  long  distance,  but 
that  many  of  his  people  wished  very  much  to  hear  me  preach, 
and  so  he  would  like  to  gratify  them.  I  started  away 
from  home  Saturday  afternoon  about  two  o'clock  :  and 
about  four  I  met  brother  Lesly  on  foot.  I  was  astonished 
to  see  him  thus,  for  he  was  a  feeble  man,  and  I  expressed 
to  him  my  feelings.  He  said  he  did  not  intend  to  walk  ; 
that  he  thought  there  was  no  doubt  that  some  of  the  many 
people  who  had  frequently  requested  him  to  exchange  with 
me  would  gladly  furnish  him  with  a  horse  for  his  accommo- 
dation if  he  should  do  so.  '  But,'  said  he, '  I  tried  yesterday 
in  ten  places,  and  this  morning  in  four  others,  but  could  not 
succeed  in  getting  a  horse  ;  and  so,  about  nine  o'clock, 
set  out  on  foot.  I  rested  three  hours  in  the  middle  of  th<3 
day,  and  so  I  am  rather  late.  I  am  very  much  fatigued.  I 


THE   LOAD   OP  WOOD.  407 

assure  you.  Had  I  known  that  I  should  have  been  obliged 
to  walk,  I  should  not  have  proposed  the  exchange.' " 

"  That  was  a  cruel  thing,"  said  two  or  three  voices  at 
once." 

"  If  I  had  been  in  your  place,"  the  squire  remarked,  "  I 
should  have  preached  pretty  plainly  to  that  man's  people." 

"It  was  an  abominable  thing,"  Mr.  Fletcher  observed, 
"  for  that  people  not  to  let  Mr.  Lesly  have  a  horse,  when 
he  made  the  exchange  merely  to  gratify  them." 

So  one  and  another  expressed  themselves,  till  all  had 
said  something,  when  one  remarked,  — 

"  Now,  Mr.  Bullard,  we  must  hear  you." 

" / am  ready  now"  Mr.  Bullard  remarked  ;  and  at  once 
proceeded  to  say,  "  Most  of  you  probably  know  that  our 
minister  and  I  married  our  wives  from  the  same  town, 
and  that  they  were  and  are  very  intimate  friends.  Last 
spring  Mr.  Davis  was  in  my  office,  and  in  the  course  of  his 
call  asked  me  if  I  knew  who  had  any  good  potatoes  to 
sell.  I  told  him  I  did  not,  unless  Mr.  Barnet,  the  store- 
keeper, had  them.  I  told  him  I  believed  we  were  nearly 
out,  and  proposed  going  immediately  over  to  the  store  and 
see  if  we  could  not  each  of  us  obtain  a  supply.  On  our  way 
I  was  overtaken  by  a  gentleman  who  wished  to  consult 
me ;  and  so  I  left  Mr.  Davis  and  went  back  to  my  office, 
lie  went  on  and  called  at  the  store  and  found  some  pota- 
toes. He  engaged  a  barrel.  When  I  went  home  to  tea, 
I  likewise  called  at  the  store  and  asked  Mr.  Barnet  if  ho 
had  any  good  potatoes.  He  told  me  he  had  some  of 
the  first  quality.  So  I  agreed  to  take  a  barrel.  Mr. 
Barnet  agreed  to  send  them  along  when  he  sent  Mr. 
Davis's,  the  next  morning.  We  were  not  quite  out ; 
so  the  barrel  was  not  immediately  opened.  The  next 
week  I  was  absent  at  court,  and  my  wife  one  day  thought 
she  would  go  over  and  make  Mrs.  Davis  a  visit.  She  did 
so,  and  was  persuaded  to  stay  to  dinner.  At  the  tablo 


408  A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

she  observed  that  there  were  some  very  excellent  potatoes, 
and,  being  superior  to  any  she  had  seen  for  some  time,  she 
was  induced  to  ask  Mr.  Davis  where  he  obtained  them. 
He  told  her.  She  remarked  her  husband  bought  a  barrel 
there  lately,  but  they  had  not  yet  used  any  ;  but,  she  said, 
if  they  are  like  these,  she  would  have  the  barrel  opened 
at  once.  A  day  or  two  after  I  returned  she  requested  me 
to  open  that  barrel  of  potatoes,  at  the  same  time  telling 
me  of  the  very  excellent  ones  she  had  seen  on  the  table  at 
Mr.  Davis's.  I  accordingly  went  down  cellar  and  opened 
the  barrel,  when,  instead  of  there  being  large  potatoes,  I 
found  them  very  small.  I  called  my  wife  to  come  and 
look  at  them  and  compare  them  with  Mr.  Davis's.  She 
came,  and  exclaimed  at  once,  '  How  very  small  they  are ! 
They  don't  look  like  those  I  saw  at  M,rs.  Davis's.'  '  No/  I 
said  ;  '  nor  do  they  look  like  the  barrel  Mr.  Barnet  showed 
me.'  I  headed  them  up,  and  when  I  went  to  my  office 
called  at  the  store  and  told  Mr.  Barnet  that  I  wished  he 
would  send  and  get  those  potatoes  he  sent  to  me  the  other 
day.  'What  is  the  matter?'  Mr.  Barnet  asked.  '  0,'  I 
said, '  I  don't  want  them ;  they  are  not  what  I  bought.'  Mr. 
Barnet  at  once  called  his  Irishman,  Michael,  and  asked 
him  if  he  made  any  mistake  in  the  potatoes  he  delivered 
at  Mr.  Bullard's  ;  if  he  did  not  deliver  the  barrel  he 
crossed  as  the  one  for  Mr.  Bullard.  '  No,'  said  Michael ; 
'  I  carried  that  to  Mr.  Davis.'  '  What  did  you  do  that 
for?'  with  much  excitement  Mr.  Barnet  inquired.  'Und 
I  thut  that  I  wud,'  said  Michael.  'You  thought  you 
would  !  Don't  you  know  that  you  are  to  obey  my  orders  ? ' 
'  Fath,'  said  Michael,  '  I  thut  I  wud  like  to  see  whut  the 
lawyar  wud  do  if  he  was  sarved  as  ye  sarve  the  praest. 
I've  curried  poor  butther  and  shanded  sugar  very  often 
to  the  praest ;  and  I  made  up  me  mind  I  would  like  to 
know  what  the  lawyar  wud  say  to  be  trated  so  ;  and  I 
curried  the  poor  potatoes  to  thry  him.  The  best  barrel 


THE  LOAD   OF  WOOD.  409 

I  curried  to  the  praest.'  '  Shut  up,  you  blockhead  ! '  Mr. 
Baruet  vociferated  as  Michael  was  explaining  and  as  I 
was  laughing  as  if  my  sides  would  come  off.  '  Shut  up, 
you  blockhead,  and  pack  up  your  things  and  be  off!' 
As  soon  as  I  could  recover  myself  I  said  to  Mr.  Barnet 
that  I  would  keep  the  potatoes  and  would  most  cheerfully 
pay  for  them,  and  should  feel  a  great  pleasure  in  doing  so, 
inasmuch  as  my  friend  the  parson  had  been  fortunate 
enough  to  have  the  good  barrel  intended  for  me." 

It  is  perhaps  superfluous  to  add  that  this  recital  of  the 
lawyer's  occasioned  such  volumes  of  laughter  as  were  un- 
common in  the  quiet  house  of  the  squire.  It  seemed  for  a 
while  that  the  violent  shaking  of  sides  and  bending  of 
backs  might  result  in  some  serio.us  injury  to  the  whole 
company.  The  squire  was  so  affected  that  he  could  not 
otter  a  word  for  many  minutes  ;  and,  indeed,  the  power  of 
speech  seemed  to  be  pretty  generally  suspended  in  all  who 
were  present.  At  length  Charles  commanded  himself  suf- 
ficiently to  remark, — 

"That  was  capital,  I  declare." 

"  How  well  the  storekeeper  was  punished !  "  added  the 
squire.  "  I  think  the  matter  ought  to  be  published." 

After  one  and  another  had  expressed  themselves  in  re- 
lation to  the  lawyer's  story,  Mr.  Bullard  added,  — 

"  This  affair  was  a  good  thing  for  Mr.  Davis,  and  for 
Mr.  Barnet,  the  storekeeper,  likewise.  Mr.  Barnet  was 
most  effectually  mortified.  He  took  me  one  side  after  the 
excitement  of  the  moment  and  earnestly  entreated  me 
to  keep  dark,  and  promised  that  Mr.  Davis  should  be  a 
special  customer  hereafter  irx  another  way.  He  kept  his 
promise,  I  believe  ;  for  I  have  often  heard  Mrs.  Davis  say 
sinCe  that  Mr.  Barnet's  goods  were  much  better  than  for- 
merly, and  that  he  had  been  of  late  very  generous  to 
them." 

When  the  company  were  preparing  to  leave,  the  ladies 
35 


410  A   VOICE   FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

being  up  stairs  putting  on  their  bonnets,  <fcc.,  Mr.  David- 
son stepped  up  to  Mr.  Eldridge  and  remarked,  — 

"  I  really  hope  you  will  never  pay  Mr.  Conner  full  prico 
for  that  wood.  The  more  I  think  of  it,  the  more  I  am  con- 
vinced it  would  be  wrong  in  you  to  submit  to  such  impo- 
sition." 

"  Would  you  have  me  stand  out,  if  by  the  act  I  should 
make  Mr.  Conner  my  enemy  ?  "  Mr.  Eldridge  asked. 

"I  would  not  pay  him  the  full  price,"  said  Mr.  David- 
son, "  let  the  consequence  be  what  it  might." 

"  Mr.  Conner  was  much  excited  when  he  left  our  house, 
I  assure  you,"  Mr.  Eldridge  said. 

"I  presume  he  was  giving  Mr.  Otis  an  account  of  the 
matter,"  Mr.  Davidson  said  ;  "  for  I  saw  him  yesterday 
talking  with  the  gentleman  about  twelve  o'clock,  and  he 
manifested  considerable  emotion,  I  thought,  by  the  ges- 
tures he  made." 

"  I  have  no  doubt  he  has  told  almost  every  one  he  has 
met  since,"  Mr.  Eldridge  said.  "  I  am  almost  sorry  that 
I  did  not  pay  him  all  that  he  demanded." 


CHAPTER    XXXVI. 

THE  PASTOR'S  INTERVIEW  WITH  THE  DEACON. 

ABOUT  six  weeks  from  Ihe  period  at  which  we  left  Mr. 
Eldridge  in  the  last  chapter  he  was  waited  upon  by  Dea- 
con Smith.  Whether  he  had  been  informed  that  Mrs.  El- 
dridge was  out  of  town  for  a  day  or  two,  and  that  the 
pastor  was  almost  alone  with  his  children,  and  was  in- 
duced to  take  such  a  time  for  an  interview,  we  know  not ; 
but  it  was  a  noticeable  circumstance  by  Mr.  Eldridge  that 
the  visit  should  have  thus  occurred.  Though  the  pastor 
had  recently  been  apprised  that  the  deacon  had  taken 
some  exceptions  to  his  course  with  the  wayward  son,  and 
that  he  was  consorting  with  Colonel  Presbury  in  attempts 
at  retaliation,  yet,  from  what  he  thought  he  knew  of  the 
feelings  of  the  multitude,  he  had  no  special  apprehension 
that  success  would  attend  any  efforts  for  disorganization 
or  disrupture.  Therefore  he  was  in  no  way  disconcerted 
when  he  found  himself  alone  with  the  deacon.  The 
thought,  however,  did  not  occur  to  Mr.  Eldridge  that 
the  object  of  this  visit  was  what  it  proved  to  be ;  and 
so,  as  had  always  been  his  manner,  he  treated  the  deacon 
just  as  if  all  was  smooth  water  on  which  his  bark  was 
resting.  The  deacon  for  a  while  responded  to  this  feel- 
ing, and  was  apparently  in  the  same  friendly  humor  which 
Lad  for  nearly  twenty  years  characterized  him  whenever 

(411) 


412  A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

he  met  his  pastor.  At  length,  however,  the  new  feelings 
were  manifested  as  the  deacon  remarked, — 

"  I  have  been  wishing,  Mr.  Eldridge,  for  some  little 
time  to  converse  with  you  upon  the  state  of  matters  in  our 
parish  ;  and,  having  a  little  leisure  this  evening,  I  thought 
I  would  ride  up  and  see  you." 

"  I  am  pleased,"  Mr.  Eldridge  replied,  "  to  converse 
upon  such  a  subject;  for  my  thoughts  are  most  usually 
directed  to  the  concerns  of  the  people.  Is  there  any  thing 
particularly  new  touching  the  interests  of  the  church  or 
parish  ?  " 

"  I  have  thought,"  said  the  deacon, "  that  our  pastor  might 
not  be  aware  of  the  state  of  things  among  us  ;  and,  though 
it  may  not  be  a  very  pleasant  subject  for  him  to  consider, 
yet  others  besides  myself  have  judged  that  he  ought  to  be 
informed  in  relation  to  it." 

"  Please  to  proceed,"  Mr.  Eldridge  said. 

"  Well,  sir,  to  come  directly  to  the  point,  there  is  not  a 
little  dissatisfaction  with  our  minister.  Some  of  the  people 
have  been  dissatisfied  for  years,  but  have  disguised  their 
feelings,  not  being  willing  to  create  any  disturbance." 

"  I  have  within  a  few  days  been  informed,"  Mr.  Eldridge 
said,  "  that  there  were  a  few  individuals  in  the  parish 
whose  feelings  towards  me  were  somewhat  changed  ;  but 
I  have  supposed  that  there  was  nothing  very  serious  in 
the  matter." 

"  I  do  not  exactly  know,"  the  deacon  said,  "  how  many 
are  opposed ;  but  I  should  think  the  number  is  not  very 
small." 

"  I  have  not  heard  that  any  others  were  opposed  to  me 
but  Colonel  Presbury,  and  yourself,  and  two  or  three 
more,"  Mr.  Eldridge  said.  "  Colonel  Presbury  became 
dissatisfied,  I  am  informed,  because  he  thought  I  had  been 
too  active  in  matters  which  did  not  properly  concern  me  •, 


THE  PASTOR'S  INTERVIEW  WITH  THE  DEACON.      413 

and  Deacon  Smith's  opposition  was  excited  by  my  fidelity 
to  his  family  in  endeavoring  to  make  an  erring  son  see  tho 
error  of  his  ways  and  become  a  blessing  to  his  dear  par- 
ents and  the  community." 

"  "Well,  sir,  do  you  think  that  you  pursued  the  proper 
course  with  our  Robert?  " 

"  I  am  not  aware  that  I  pursued  an  improper  course," 
was  the  reply.  "  I  ever  have  been  deeply  interested  in 
your  family  ;  and  it  was  a  source  of  the  deepest  pain  to 
know  that  Robert  was  in  the  way  he  was.  You  know, 
deacon,  how  I  felt ;  and  you  probably  remember  how  you 
felt  at  the  time  I  called  at  your  house  when  the  subject 
was  first  introduced.  You  are  aware  that  you  and  Mrs. 
Smith  entreated  me,  with  tears  in  your  eyes,  to  exert  myself 
to  reclaim  your  son.  I  did  endeavor  to  do  this  ;  and  had 
Robert  been  my  own  child  I  could  not  have  pursued  a 
more  kind,  and  affectionate,  and  earnest  course  to  snatch 
him  from  destruction  than  I  did." 

"  Yes,  sir,"  said  the  deacon,  brushing  away  his  tears,  "  I 
know  you  felt  for  us  then  ;  but  I  think  you  went  too  far. 
You  did  hot  seem  to  think  that  Robert  altered  any  for  the 
better  after  your  first  and  second  interviews  with  him.  / 
thought  there  was  a  great  improvement  in  him  ;  and,  if 
you  had  let  him  alone  then,  I  think  he  would  have  been  an 
altered  person." 

"  I  did  think,  for  a  week  or  two  after  my  second  con- 
versation with  Robert,  that  he  would  do  better,  I  acknowl- 
edge," Mr.  Eldridge  said  ;  "  and  I  kept  my  eye  upon  him, 
that  I  might  have  evidence  of  his  reformation  both  for  my 
comfort  and  your  own  ;  but  I  soon  discovered  that,  instead 
of  improving,  he  was  going  from  bad  to  worse.  There- 
fore I  did  not  let  him  alone,  as  you  intimate  I  ought  to 
have  done.  I  sought  for  other  opportunities  to  save  him, 
because  I  felt  for  you  and  his  dear  mother  so  tenderly, 
and  because  I  felt  for  the  youth  likewise." 
35* 


414          A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

"  I  was  not  aware  that  lie  continued  to  go  on  in  the  evil 
way  after  your  second  interview  with  him,"  the  deacon 
said.  "  I  thought,  from  what  Robert  told  me,  that  lie  meant 
to  do  differently,  and  I  thought  I  saw  good  reason  for  be- 
lieving that  he  began  to  amend." 

"  Well,  deacon,  had  you  seen  all  that  I  saw,  arid  heard 
all  that  I  heard,  you  would  not  have  been  thus  blinded.  I 
think  Robert  endeavored  to  deceive  both  you  and  me  ;  ar  d 
had  I  not  been  very  much  interested  in  his  welfare  and  in  the 
happiness  of  his  parents,  and  kept  a  good  lookout  for 
him,  I  have  no  doubt  he  would  have  succeeded  in  deceiv- 
ing me  as  I  fear  he  has  you." 

"  Well,  what  you  said  to  him  made  him  excessively  an- 
gry, and  he  has  acted  worse  ever  since  ;  and  he  thinks  you 
abused  him;  and  I  cannot  avoid  thinking  as  lie  does"  the 
deacon  observed. 

"  You  are  both  very  much  mistaken,"  said  the  pastor. 
"  Had  you  been  present  when  I  last  conversed  with  your 
son,  as  I  very  much  wish  you  had  been,  you  would  not 
have  thought  that  I  treated  him  otherwise  than  in  a  very 
kind  and  affectionate  manner.  I  endeavored  faithfully  to 
point  out  to  him  the  consequences  of  his  present  career, 
and  to  awaken  within  him  a  resolution  to  reform,  both  for 
his  own  sake  and  for  the  happiness  of  his  parents  and  tho 
benefit  of  the  community." 

"  I  cannot  avoid  feeling,"  the  deacon  said,  "  that  you 
abused  Robert,  and  that  you  have  been  the  means  of 
making  him  what  he  now  is.  I  think  you  have  done  both 
him  and  me  a  lasting  injury." 

"  I  am  very  much  surprised  that  you  can  think  so,"  Mr. 
Eldridge  said,  "  after  what  I  have  now  stated  to  you.  I 
am  certain  you  have  ilo  cause  fpr  such  a  feeling  as  you 
express." 

"  I  think  I  have,"  the  deacon  said.  "  Robert  would  not 
be  so  angry  with  you  if  you  had  not  abused  him,  I  know. 
Jfr  will  bear  reproof  when  it  is  kindly  given." 


THE  PASTOR'S  INTERVIEW  WITH  THE  DEACOX.      415 

"  It  appears  to  me  very  strange,  deacon,  that  you  have 
never  mentioned  to  me  before  how  you  felt.  I  have  seen 
you  once  or  twice  at  least,  since  my  last  conversation  with 
Robert,  and  have  met  Mrs.  Smith  likewise.  I  should  have 
supposed  you  would  have  sought  from  me  some  explanation 
of  my  conduct  before  this.  It  is  now  nearly  three  months 
since  I  conversed  with  your  sou." 

"  Well,  I  did  not  care  about  seeing  you,  I  felt  so  about  your 
abusing  Robert,"  said  the  deacon. 

"I  am  perfectly  astonished,"  Mr.  Eldridge  said,  "at 
your  feeling,  deacon.  You  may  rest  assured  you  have  no 
good  cause  to  feel  as  }rou  do.  Does  your  wife  sympathize 
with  you  ?  I  cannot  think  she  does,  for  she  never  treated 
me  with  more  cordiality  than  she  has  of  late." 

"  My  wife  is  not  here,"  the  deacon  said.  "  If  she  was, 
she  could  answer  for  herself." 

****** 

"  There  are  quite  a  number  of  your  people  who  feel  that 
they  can  no  longer  be  benefited  by  your  ministry,"  the 
deacon  remarked  ;  "  and  I  thought  I  would  call  up  and 
tell  you  of  it." 

"  Who  besides  yourself  and  Colonel  Presbury  ?  " 

"  There  are  Mr.  Dixon,  Mr.  Otis,  and  several  families  who 
live  near  Colonel  Presbury  ;  and  t/iere  are  Mr.  Conner, 
a  large  number  who  live  in  /his  neighborhood,  and  —  0,  I 
cannot  now  think  of  half  of  them,"  the  deacon  thought- 
fully said.  "  Your  refusing  to  pay  Mr.  Conner  for  the 
wood  as  you  agreed  to  has  made  you  a  great  many  ene- 
mies. I  was  surprised  when  I  heard  of  it ;  for  Mr.  Conner 
is  a  man  who  is  much  respected  in  town,  and  has  consid- 
erable influence" 

"  What  have  you  heard  about  the  wood  ?  "  the  pastor 
inquired. 

"  0,  nothing,  only  that  you  engaged  twelve  cords  of 
wood  of  Mr.  Conner  at  five  dollars  per  cord ;  and  that, 


416  A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

after  the  wood  was  all  delivered,  you  refused  to  pay 
him." 

"  You  did  not  hear  what  kind  of  wood  he  delivered  me, 
did  you?" 

"No,  sir." 

"Well,  deacon,  I  will  get  my  lantern,  and  I  should  like 
to  have  you  look  at  it.  Some  of  it  is  sawed  up  and  piled 
in  my  wood  house,  and  some  is  where  Mr.  Conner  threw 
it  off." 

"I  don't  care  about  seeing  the  wood"  the  deacon  said. 

"  Well,  deacon,  I  have  no  doubt,  from  what  good  judges 
of  wood  have  told  me,  that  Mr.  Conner  could  not  have 
sold  that  lot  of  wood  for  more  than  three  dollars  a  cord, 
if  he  could  for  that  sum.  I  was  astonished,  when  he  threw 
off  the  last  seven  or  eight  cords,  that  he  should  bring  me 
such  wood  and  expect  full  price  for  it ;  but  I  thought  I 
would  not  say  any  thing  about  it,  and  I  never  should  have 
done  as  I  have  had  I  not  been  urged  very  much  by  some 
of  the  very  best  judges  in  this  place  to  decline  paying  full 
price  for  the  wood.  A  number  of  people  told  me  I  ought 
not  to  pay  more  than  thirty  dollars  for  the  lot ;  but  I  have 
offered  Mr.  Conner  forty-five  dollars,  and  he  has  refused 
to  take  the  money.  Have  you  ever  heard  that  I  made  him 
this  offer?" 

"  Not  that  I  remember,"  the  deacon  replied. 

"  I  think  you  ought  to  have  heard  of  this  as  well  as  the 
other  part  of  the  story,"  Mr.  Eldridge  said.  "  What  rea- 
sons are  urged  by  others  for  their  being  unable  to  be  bene- 
fited by  my  ministry  ?  "  the  pastor  inquired. 

"  0,  I  do  not  know  as  any  particular  reasons  are  men- 
tioned, only  that  they  think  they  should  like  another  minister." 

"  Do  you  think,  deacon,  that  such  a  feeling  as  you  repre- 
sent is  such  as  ought  to  be  noticed  by  a  pastor  ?  " 

"If  I  were  a  minister,"  the  deacon  replied,  "  I  should  not 
want  to  preach  where  a  considerable  portion  of  my  hearers 
disliked  me." 


THE  PASTOR'S  INTERVIEW  WITH  THE  DEACON.      417 

"  I  understand  you  to  say,  deacon,  that  you  are  dissatis- 
fied with  me  so  much  as  to  desire  my  removal." 

"  That  is  my  feeling,"  the  deacon  said. 

"Do  Colonel  Presbury  and  Mr.  Dixon  feel  as  you  do?" 

"  Yes,  sir,  and  many  others.  A  large  number  of  the 
female  part  of  the  congregation  are  very  anxious  for  a 
new  minister." 

"  Well,  deacon,  I  will  think  of  this  subject,"  the  pastor 
said. 

'"  I  should  think  it  best,"  the  deacon  said,  "  both  for 
yourself  and  the  parish,  that  you  act  in  relation  to  the 
matter  very  soon.  From  what  I  know,  I  am  confident  that 
those  who  are  now  dissatisfied  with  you  will  never  feel 
reconciled  to  your  further  ministry  as  their  pastor.  They 
will  agitate  and  agitate  until  they  gain  their  object.  Now,  I 
say  this  for  your  good,  Mr.  Eldridge  ;  and  I  think  you  have 
seen  enough  of  the  manner  in  which  ministers  about  you 
have  been  dismissed  to  be  viise  enough  to  leave  without 
there  being  made  a  desperate  effort  to  effect  your  dismission." 

"I  am  obliged  to  you  for  your  good  feeling,  deacon. 
You  know  that  /  have  experienced  largely  of  your  kindness 
for  t/ie  last  twenty  years  !  " 


CHAPTER    XXXVII. 

BEQUEST  FOR  A  DISMISSION. 

THE  conviction  cannot  have  escaped  the  reader  that 
Rev.  Mr.  Eldridge  cherished  high  and  noble  views  of  the 
profession  to  which  he  was  devoted,  and  that  he  consid- 
ered a  permanent  ministry  had  all  the  advantage  over  one 
that  is  transient  and  changing*  Nor  can  the  reader  fail 
to  have  noticed  that  he,  at  the  outset  of  his  pastoral  con- 
nection, laid  his  plans  broad,  so  that  he  might  be  unto  the 
people  of  his  charge  a  minister  who  should  do  them  all 
the  good  it  were  in  his  power  to  accomplish.  Nor  is  it  pos- 
sible for  the  impression  not  to  have  been  made  that  in  each 
successive  year  of  his  pastorate  he  had  only  one  purpose 
of  life ;  and  that  was,  to  spend  and  be  spent  wholly  in  the 
service  of  that  charge  which  he  received  when  a  young 
man.  There  were  many  temptations  laid  in  his  path  to 
swerve  from  so  high  and  noble  a  purpose.  Offers  of  situa- 
tions in  many  respects  far  more  congenial  to  his  taste,  and 
where  the  emoluments  would  greatly  transcend  the  salary 
on  which  he  was  settled,  were  often  made  to  him ;  but 
from  all  these  he  at  once  turned,  feeling  that,  should  he 
intermit  preaching  in  the  place  where  he  took  upon  him 
ordination  vows,  the  usefulness  of  his  ministry  and  life 
would  be  very  much  abridged.  He  had  no  sympathy  with 
that  pride  and  ambition  which  often  under  another  name, 
with  more  of  the  air  of  godliness  about  it,  but  with  little  of 

(418) 


EEQUEST  FOB  A   DISMISSION.  419 

its  power,  induces  pastors  to  change  from  a  limited  to  a 
larger  field  of  pastoral  labor  because  the  opportunity  for 
usefulness  would  be  augmented.  He  contemplated  the 
chasm  left  by  the  pastor  who  yields  to  such  a  "louder 
call,"  as  it  is  termed,  and  saw  that,  however  useful  he 
might  be  in  his  new  sphere,  he  could  never  repair  the  in- 
jury which  was  on  every  side  round  his  late  charge,  and 
calling  almost  for  vengeance  upon  the  guilty  cause.  All 
the  evils  which  came  in  consequence  of  the  pastor's  leaving 
the  people  of  his  first  love  he  would  subtract  from  the  good 
he  might  effect  in  his  second  pastorate,  and  the  balance  of 
usefulness  would  be  so  small  as  to  excite  the  feeling  that 
on  the  whole  it  would  have  been  good  for  that  man  if  he 
had  never  entered  the  ministry.  By  reason  of  these  con- 
victions, Mr.  Eldridge  was  determined  that  his  ministry 
should  not  be  thus  shorn  of  its  usefulness,  and  that  he 
would  not  be  the  man  over  whom  any  part  of  his  present 
flock  should  weep  and  sigh  because  he  left  them  when  there 
was  no  cause  but  that  of  pride  and  ambition.  It  may  be 
he  carried  his  views  to  too  extreme  a  point,  and  it  may  be 
he  did  not.  The  evils  flowing  out  of  a  fluctuating  ministry 
are  so  great,  that,  perhaps,  if  all  pastors  sympathized  more 
with  this  feeling  of  Mr.  Eldridge,  more  good  might  be 
accomplished  by  their  ministry.  Few,  very  few,  are  tho 
occasions  which  will  justify  a  pastor  in  sundering  the 
solemn  ties  which  were  in  so  much  confidence  and  solem- 
nity established  at  ordination.  They  who  have  watched 
behind  where  these  ties  have  been  torn  asunder,  and  have 
heard  the  curses  of  the  ungodly  and  the  wailings  of  the 
saints,  and  witnessed  evil  upon  evil  coming  down  on  the 
desolated  fold  by  reason  of  the  breach  of  so  solemn  a 
trust  and  pledge,  feel  that  the  good  to  be  effected  in  the 
new  field,  let  it  be  ever  so  great,  can  never  compensate  for 
the  evils  which  have  been  occasioned  in  consequence  of  the 
yielding  to  the  "  loud  call." 


420         A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

Having  continued  thus  long  in  the  ministry  with  a  high 
estimate  of  the  value  of  permanency  in  the  pastoral  rela- 
tion ;  having  from  time  to  time  more  than  intimated  to  the 
people  of  his  charge  that  he  should  heed  no  overtures 
made  to  him  to  occupy  another  field  ;  having  not  only  at 
home  frowned  upon  the  tendency  in  both  pastors  and 
people  to  change,  but  abroad,  when  called  to  sit  in  councils 
for  the  dismission  of  ministers,  having  raised  high  his 
voice  against  this  most  deleterious  practice, — Mr.  Eldridgo 
could  not  be  supposed  to  allow  such  a  visit  as  the  deacon 
made  him  to  move  him  to  any  rash  action.  From  the 
hour  the  deacon  left  him  he  meditated  much,  and  that 
prayerfully,  upon  the  disclosures  that  were  made  to  him 
that  he  might  learn  his  duty  in  reference  to  them.  For 
this  purpose  he  consulted  one  or  two  of  his  parishioners 
in  whom  he  always  had  confided  and  who  were  thought 
by  him  to  be  competent  advisers  in  the  matter.  Squire 
Davidson,  Mr.  Clay,  and  Dr.  Howard  were  these  individ- 
uals. To  the  squire,  who  had  been  secluded  by  the  in- 
firmities of  age  from  any  considerable  intercourse  with 
the  people,  the  intelligence  brought  to  him  by  his  pastor 
of  the  deacon's  position  was  entirely  new.  Though  his 
daughter  Frances  (Mrs.  Howard)  had  an  inkling  of  the 
matter,  she  felt  it  to  be  her  duty  to  manifest  nothing  ;  for 
she  was  fearful  that  it  would  be  too  much  for  her  venerable 
father  to  bear.  When,  therefore,  Mr.  Eldridge  broke  to 
this  standard  bearer  in  the  church  the  state  of  affairs  in 
the  parish  ^as  disclosed  by  Deacon  Smith,  jt  seemed  for  a 
while  that  he  would  sink  under  the  disclosure.  He  knew 
tho  fidelity  of  the  pastor.  He  knew  how  well  both  church 
and  parish  had  prospered  under  his  ministry.  He  had 
indulged  most  joyous  feelings  in  anticipation  of  leaving 
the  parish  united  and  happy  under  the  present  pastor. 
He,  too,  recalled  to  his  memory  a  great  many  pulpits  in 
the  adjacent  community  which  had  changed  incumbents 


REQUEST    FOR  A   DISMISSION.  421 

once,  twice,  and  some  thrice,  since  the  settlement  of  Mr. 
Eldridge ;  and  in  view  of  this  fact  he  remembered  how 
many  times  he  had  pointed  people  abroad  to  his  own 
parish,  would  they  learn  the  rich  benefits  of  a  permanent 
pastorship.  Likewise  the  squire  remembered  well  Deacon 
Smith's  position  in  relation  to  Mr.  Eldridge  for  twenty 
years  ;  and  then  the  thought  that  he  was  now  heading  a 
faction  for  the  purpose  of  rending  all  these  his  cherished 
sources  of  pleasure,  and  bringing  sorrow  to  his  pastor,  ruin, 
perhaps,  to  the  church,  and  certainly  reproach  to  the  cause 
of  piety,  well  nigh  prostrated  the  old  veteran  in  Israel  to 
the  dust. 

"  It  cannot  be"  the  squire  remarked, "  that  any  great  num- 
ber sympathize  with  the  deacon.  lam  sure  it  cannot  be  ;  and 
my  advice  to  you,  Mr.  Eldridge,  is,  to  think  so  yourself,  and 
to  take  no  notice  of  the  matter.  It  might  be  well,  as  you 
have  suggested,  to  take  some  opportunity  to  confer  with  Dr. 
Howard  ;  for,  as  he  is  abroad  considerably  in  town,  he 
would  probably  know  the  state  of  feeling  as  well  as  any  one." 

Mr.  Eldridge  soon  had  an  interview  with  the  doctor, 
which  resulted  in  the  conviction  that,  whatever  might  be 
the  power  of  opposition  to  the  pastor  in  the  circle  repre- 
sented by  Deacon  Smith,  it  did  not  reach  beyond  that  circle 
and  pervade  the  majority  of  the  people.  Mr.  Clay  had 
the  same  view  of  the  matter  ;  and  both  he  and  the  doctor 
thought  that  there  was  no  cause  for  Mr.  Eldridge's  alarm, 
and  advised  liim  most  earnestly  to  continue  on  in  the  even 
tenor  of  his  way.  The  doctor  remarked  that  he  did  not 
believe  the  pastor  ever  had  a  stronger  Jiold  of  the  great  body  of 
the  peopk  than  he  had  at  t/ie  present  time,  and  that  he  did 
not  think  it  possible  for  Deacon  Smith  or  Colonel  Presbury 
to  prejudice  the  minds  of  any  against  him  unless  they  had 
better  materials  to  work  with  than  they  had  produced. 
In  accordance  with  this  advice,  which  corresponded  well 
with  his  own  judgment,  Mr.  Eldridge  neither  in  word  nor 
36 


422  A  VOICE  FROM  THE   PARSONAGE. 

action  manifested  any  knowledge  of  the  doings  of  the 
deacon  and  his  company  ;  and  it  was  agreed  by  the  doctor 
and  Mr.  Clay  that  they  would  be  perfectly  ignorant  of  the 
same.  They  each  wisely  concluded  that  they  would  fur- 
nish no  fuel  for  the  fire  by  any  action  or  word  in  relation 
to  the  matter.  If  Deacon  Smith  and  those  confederated 
with  him  pursued  their  evil  work,  they  should  have  no 
encouragement  either  from  the  pastor  or  his  friends. 

So  sanguine  was  the  deacon,  however,  in  the  feeling 
that  the  hints  he  gave  his  pastor  would  be  effectual,  that 
he  really  expected  to  hear  on  the  next  Sabbath  his  request 
for  a  dismission.  On  his  way  to  the  house  of  God  he 
remarked  to  his  wife,  that,  from  what  he  knew,  he  "  should 
not  be  surprised  if  Mr.  Eldridge  should  ask  for  a  dis- 
mission to-day."  He  did  this  to  prepare  her  for  the  event, 
knowing  that  she  was  not  anticipating  such  a  trial,  and 
that  if  it  came  suddenly  upon  her  she  might  be  most 
severely  overcome.  Colonel  Presbury,  Mr.  Dixon,  Mr. 
Otis,  Miss  Bemis,  and  others  all  went  to  church  expecting 
that  the  pastor  would  communicate  to  his  people  a  desire 
to  vacate  his  pastorate.  However,  they  were  all  disap- 
pointed. Mr.  Eldridge  preached  as  usual,  and  indicated 
nothing  from  which  it  could  be  inferred  that  any  unusual 
occurrence  had  transpired  in  the  previous  week  to  dis- 
turb him.  He  did  the  same  on  the  succeeding  Sabbath, 
and  on  the  one  following  that,  much  to  the  chagrin  and 
disappointment  of  those  who  were  looking  for  a  commu- 
nication. The  week  after  the  third  Sabbath,  Deacon 
Smith  and  Colonel  Presbury  together  called  at  the  parson- 
age. They  had  waited  much  beyond  the  period  which 
their  patience  had  allotted  as  the  full  time  it  would  be 
necessary  for  the  pastor  to  hold  the  subject  under  advise- 
ment without  any  report  of  his  feelings  respecting  it,  and 
they  could  wait  no  longer  without  making  another  effort  to 
rouse  Mr.  Eldridge  to  action.  Both  these  gentlemen,  after 


REQUEST   FOE  A   DISMISSION.  423 

they  were  seated  in  the  room  with  their  pastor,  appeared  to 
forget  the  etiquette  of  civilized  life,  and  manifested  more 
of  the  feelings  of  the  forest  than  of  the  gentleman  and 
Christian.  To  the  pastor's  courteous  inquiries  after  their 
own  health  and  that  of  their  families  nothing  but  dogged 
replies'  were  returned,  and  it  became  at  once  evident  to 
Mr.  Eldridge  that  they  were  now  the  victims  of  rage  and 
anger. 

"  We  have  called,"  said  the  deacon,  in  the  most  abrupt 
manner,  "  to  know  if  you  are  intending  to  ask  for  a  dis- 
mission soon.  We  have  been  expecting  for  upwards  of 
two  weeks  to  hear  such  a  request ;  and,  as  we  have  been 
disappointed,  we  would  like  to  know  if  you  intend  to  go 
away." 

Mr.  Eldridge  remarked,  "  For  a  pastor  to  leave  a  people 
with  whom  he  has  been  connected  for  twenty  years  there 
ought  to  be  the  best  of  reasons.  Since  you  were  here  the 
other  evening,  deacon,  I  have  thought  much  of  the  subject 
of  your  conversation,  I  assure  you,  and  have  been  endeav- 
oring to  learn  my  duty  in  the  case." 

"  Then  you  haven't  learned  it  yet,  I  suppose,"  the  deacon 
said.  MVell,  sir,  we  think  that,  if  you  knew  how  people 
felt,  you  would  not  wish  to  preach  here  another  Sabbath." 

"I  have  endeavored  to  be  advised  on  this  point,"  Mr. 
Eldridge  observed,  "  and  I  have  not  yet  been  able  to  learn 
that  there  is  any  very  serious  trouble  away  from  the  circle 
represented  by  yourself  and  your  friend  the  colonel.  I 
am  told  that  this  circle  must  be  small." 

"It  is  large  enough,"  Colonel  Presbury  remarked,  "to 
make  it  very  uncomfortable  for  a  pastor  to  preach  here 
who  takes  the  part  which  Mr.  Eldridge  has  taken." 

"  Yes,"  said  the  deacon,  "  there  is  no  doubt  that  the  op- 
position to  you,  Mr.  Eldridge,  is  strong  enough  to  effect 
your  dismission.  But  we  do  not  wish  to  go  forward  in  the 
matter!  We  think  it  would  be  for  your  benefit  ifyoushoidd 


424  A  VOICE   FROM  THE   PARSONAGE. 

leave  of  your  own  accord  !  It  always  injures  a  minister  very 
much  for  the  parish  to  act  first!  " 

After  this  manner  did  the  conversation  continue  for 
nearly  an  hour,  and  as  the  gentlemen  were  about  leaving 
Deacon  Smith  remarked,  — 

"  We  hope  you  will  now  be  induced  to  ask  for  a  dismis- 
sion next  Sabbath." 

This  interview  produced  a  very  marked  effect  upon  the 
pastor.  The  feelings  manifested  by  the  individuals  who 
had  called  upon  him  were  those  which  he  never  before 
witnessed  in  his  parish,  and  they  most  deeply  affected  the 
sensitive  nature  of  the  pastor.  For  an  hour  or  more  after 
he  was  left  alone  Mr.  Eldridge  sat  in  the  room  pensive 
and  sad.  Expecting  him  every  moment  into  her  own 
apartment  after  she  knew  his  visitors  had  gone,  and  won- 
dering for  some  time  why  he  did  not  come,  Mrs.  Eldridge 
at  length  left  her  needle  and  went  to  her  husband.  As  she 
opened  the  door  he  raised  not  his  head,  which  was  reclin- 
ing on  his  hand,  nor  uttered  a  word.  When  she  reached 
the  chair  in  which  he  was  seated  he  moved  not  nor  spoke. 
So  unusual  for  him  was  this  manner  that  the  good  wife  was 
alarmed,  and  nervously  asked,  — 

"  Husband,  what  is  the  matter  ?  " 

"  I  never  thought  it  would  come  to  this  !  "  he  with  a  sigh 
exclaimed.  "  I  never  thought  it  would  come  to  this !  " 

Instantly  drawing  a  chair  to  his  side,  Mrs.  Eldridge 
again  asked, — 

"  Do,  husband,  tell  me  what  it  is  that  affects  you  so  ! 
What  have  Colonel  Presbury  and  the  deacon  been  saying  ?  " 

"  Their  feelings  !  their  feelings  !  "  he  said.  "  I  could  not 
have  conceived  it  possible  for  Deacon  Smith  to  cherish  the 
spirit  he  manifested  here  this  evening.  I  cannot  endure 
this  any  longer.  I  believe  I  shall  ask  for  a  dismission  next 
Sabbath." 

"  Have  they  said  any  thing  new,  dear  ?  " 


REQUEST  FOR  A   DISMISSION.  425 

"  No,  nothing  ;  but,  then,  how  can  I  be  here  and  have 
even  these  two  men  feel  towards  me  as  they  appear  to  feel  ?" 

"  You  must  not  give  up  to  your  feelings  so,  husband  ;  you 
must  rise  above  it.  You  ought  to  think  you  have  been  a 
favored  individual  never  before  to  have  been  treated  in 
this  manner,  after  having  been  here  twenty  years.  Some 
pastors  have  to  go  through  the  same  experience  every  year, 
you  know.  There's  brother  Perkins;  every  now  and  then, 
for  a  number  of  years  past,  some  of  his  people  have  been 
to  him  and  talked  most  abusively  to  him,  and  have  told 
him  he  ought  to  go  away  ;  but  he  remains  yet,  and  is  very 
much  beloved  and  respected  by  the  great  majority  of  his 
society.  Come,  dear,  don't  think  any  thing  more  about  it ; 
throw  it  of."  . 

The  efforts  of  the  wife  were  successful  in  rallying  her 
husband  to  his  wonted  cheerfulness  and  equanimity ;  and 
he  retired  from  his  room  relieved  and  comparatively  hap- 
py, and  went  with  his  wife  to  the  sitting  room  of  the 
family.  The  next  day  he  called  upon  Dr.  Howard  and  ac- 
quainted him  with  the  interview  of  the  deacon  and  colonel. 
The  doctor  heard  all,  but  was  not  in  the  least  impressed 
that  any  thing  had  been  offered  that  ought  in  the  least  to 
affect  the  action  of  the  pastor ;  and  he  advised  him  to  be 
still,  and  let  the  deacon  and  colonel  sweat.  "  I  am  going 
round  considerable  to-day,"  he  remarked,  "  and  will  call  at 
your  house  this  evening  and  report." 

In  the  evening  the  doctor  called  and  gave  his  pastor  the 
history  of  his  attempts  in  developing  the  state  of  feeling 
towards  him.  No  individual  could  do  better  on  such  an 
errand  than  he.  Without  its  being  known  to  the  individ- 
uals whose  pulse  he  wished  to  feel  that  such  was  his  object, 
he  succeeded  well  in  his  object,  and  generally  found  that 
all  was  right,  though  in  a  few  instances  he  discovered  some 
vague  surmises  that  Deacon  Smith  did  not  appear  exactly 
as  he  formerly  did  in  relation  to  prayer  meetings,  and  that 
bis  bearing  towards  Mr.  Eldridgc  had  somewhat  changed  ; 
3G* 


426  A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

yet  in  the  circuit  in  which  the  doctor  travelled  during  the 
day  he  heard  nothing  to  induce  him  to  think  that  there 
was  any  abatement  of  affection  and  respect  for  the  pastor. 
He  purposely  called  at  certain  places  where  he  would  have 
been  likely  to  hear  the  full  avowal  of  hostility  were  there 
any  to  avow.  He  went  up  into  Mr.  Conner's  neighborhood, 
and  was  surprised  to  find  so  many  speak  so  highly  of  Mr. 
Eldridge.  He  heard  but  a  few,  and  those  few  not  the  most 
gifted  and  intelligent,  who  had  any  thing  to  urge  against 
the  pastor  by  reason  of  his  transactions  about  the  wood. 
So,  on  the  whole,  he  was  for  reaffirming  to  Mr.  Eldridge 
the  advice  given  after  the  first  visit  of  the  deacon  —  to  take 
no  notice  whatever  of  the  second  call.  He  remarked 
"  that  both  Squire  Davidson  and  Mr.  Clay,  whom  he  had 
seen  that  day,  agreed  with  him  perfectly  in  opinion  upon 
the  matter." 

In  the  course  of  a  few  days  Mr.  Eldridge  thought  he 
would  call  here  and  there  in  the  parish,  that  he  might 
discover  any  new  light  on  his  pathway  if  any  existed. 
Wherever  he  went  he  was  welcomed  with  the  same  confid- 
ing, affectionate  feeling  as  ever.  He  heard  many  things  that 
encouraged  him  greatly  in  his  way  ;  and  he  returned  home 
with  the  conviction  that  he  should  not  on  the  next  Sabbath 
propose  to  have  his  relations  to  his  people  sundered.  In 
this  position  he  continued  through  the  week  ;  and  on  the 
Sabbath  he  preached  as  usual,  and  pronounced  the  benedic- 
tion in  the  afternoon,  without  gratifying  the  few  who  were 
looking  for  a  special  communication  from  him  to  the  church 
and  parish.  The  next  morning,  as  he  opened  the  front 
door  of  his  house,  he  noticed  a  letter  on  the  step  below  to 
his  address.  As  he  opened  it  and  looked  for  the  name  of 
its  writer,  he  discovered  that  it  was  anonymous.  He  then 
proceeded  to  its  perusal,  and  found  it  filled  with  the  most 
severe  sayings,  couched  in  the  coarsest  of  our  vernacular. 
He  folded  it  up,  and  returned  with  it  to  his  study,  where 
he  deposited  it  in  a  secure  place.  In  the  course  of  tho 


REQUEST  FOR  A   DISMISSION.  427 

week  he  received  several  others  —  some  through  the  post 
office,  and  sortie  at  his  own  door  or  in  his  yard.  They 
all  bore  one  character  and  had  the  same  design.  Of  all 
these  he  made  no  mention  to  any  one,  not  even  to  his  wife. 
By  them  he  was  not  much  affected  ;  for  he  thought  they 
all  emanated  from  the  same  source,  and  were  intended  as 
a  substitute  for  a  third  visit.  The  next  Sabbath  he  ex- 
changed ,  but  he  did  not  leave  any  communication  to  be 
read  to  his  people.  At  the  close  of  the  afternoon  service, 
when  the  people  were  dispersing  for  their  homes,  Deacon 
Smith  was  observed  to  be  moving  rapidly  about  as  if  in 
search  for  some  individual.  Dr.  Howard,  noticing  the 
fact,  thought  he  would  not  be  much  in  haste,  and  accord- 
ingly loitered  about  at  his  leisure.  He  soon  found  the 
deacon  was  in  the  rear  of  the  church,  surrounded  by  sev- 
eral individuals  whom  he  recognized  as  belonging  to  the 
faction  of  which  he  was  the  life.  Having  ascertained  all 
that  he  wanted,  the  doctor  moved  along  towards  his  home. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  week  the  doctor  met  the  dea- 
con, when  the  latter  asked  him  if  he  was  aware  what  a 
dreadful  state  the  parish  was  in.  The  doctor  replied  that 
he  was  not. 

"Have  you  not  heard  any  thing  from  Mr.  Eldridge 
about  it,"  the  deacon  eagerly  asked. 

"  Mr.  Eldridge  has  said  something  to  me  respecting  one 
or  two  calls  which  you  have  made  him  recently,"  the  doc- 
tor said. 

"  He  told  you  what  I  said  to  him  then,  I  suppose  ?  "  the 
doctor  continued. 

"  I  presume  he  did,"  was  the  reply. 

"  Well,  doctor,  if  the  man  don't  take  himself  off,  I  fear 
there  will  be  serious  trouble  here." 

"  I  do  not  agree  with  you,"  the  doctor  responded. 

"  Well,"  said'  the  deacon,  "  you  will  see  before  long,  if 
Mr.  Eldridge  does  not  very  soon  ask  for  a  dismission. 

"I  <?o  not  see  any  call  for  this,"  the  doctor  remarked. 


428  A   VOICE    FROM   THE    PARSONAGE. 

"  I  hear  of  no  opposition  to  Mr.  Eldridge  but  that  which 
comes  from  you,  and  Colonel  Presbury,  and  a  few  others 
over  whom  you  have  influence.  I  tell  Mr.  Eldridge  to  be 
still  and  go  on  as  usual." 

"  Yes,  yes,"  the  deacon  said.  "Well,  doctor,  you  don't 
hear  much  said  in  the  parish,  I  know.  All  who  are  op- 
posed to  Mr.  Eldridge/ have  determined  that  we  would  not 
act  out  at  present.  We  want  that  he  should  quietly  leave. 
If  he  believes  me,  he  might  know  that  there  is  great  oppo- 
sition to  him.  Now,  doctor,  I  tell  you  what  — just  kt  Mr. 
Eldridge  ask  for  a  dismission,  and  then,  if  there  be  not  a  fair 
vote  to  grant  it,  I  will  guaranty  that  all  will  be  satisfied 
who  are  now  opposed  to  him.  I  think  it  would  be  great- 
ly to  his  advantage  to  ask  for  a  dismission.  If  ho  does 
not  he  will  have  a  hard  time  of  it  here,  I  am  persuaded." 

Mr.  Clay  had  a  conversation  with  Colonel  Presbury 
about  the  time  of  the  interview  between  the  doctor  and 
the  deacon  ;  and  in  the  course  of  the  week  Colonel  Pres- 
bury met  Mr.  Eldridge  in  the  street  and  conversed  with 
him  for  a  long  time  ;  and  the  result  was  —  of  all  this  con- 
versation with  Mr.  Clay,  the  doctor,  and  Mr.  Eldridge  — 
that  it  was  mutually  thought  advisable,  all  things  consid- 
ered, for  the  request  for  a  dismission  to  be  made  by  the 
pastor  on  the  next  Sabbath.  Both  the  doctor  and  Mr. 
Clay  were  strong  in  the  opinion  that  it  would  not  be 
granted,  and  Mr.  Eldridge  had  become  so  much  annoyed 
by  the  opposition  as  to  desire  most  strongly  to  have  the 
feelings  of  the  people  tested. 

The  next  Sabbath  was  a  memorable  day  in  the  parish  of 
Mr.  Eldridge.  Outwardly  it  was  a  day  of  sunshine  and 
pleasantness ;  and,  by  reason  of  the  propitious  weather, 
there  was  a  large  assembly  in  the  house  of  God.  The 
pastor  never  was  more  solemn  and  eloquent  in  his  services, 
and  the  people  apparently  were  never  more  impressed. 
Before  pronouncing  the  benediction  in  the  afternoon,  Mr. 
Eldridge  remarked  that  he  had  a  communication  to 


REQUEST   FOR  A  DISMISSION.  429 

present,  and  requested  the  assembly  to  be  seated.  He  then 
proceeded  to  read  his  request  for  a  dismission.  The  docu- 
ment was  brief  and  to  the  point.  He  remarked  that  it 
had  ever  been  his  purpose  to  remain  among  his  present 
charge  until  removed  by  death  or  prevented  from  being 
useful  by  any  dissatisfaction  towards  him  among  his  peo- 
ple. Statements  recently  had  been  made  to  him,  and  feel- 
ings exhibited,  which  led  him  to  ask  if  the  time  had  not 
now  arrived  when  he  could  be  no  longer  generally  useful 
to  his  people.  He  could  not  answer  the  inquiry,  but  the 
people  could  ;  and  it  was  his  desire  that  they  would  ac- 
cordingly give  expression  to  their  feeling.  If  the  ex- 
pression should  be  in  favor  of  his  leaving,  he  requested 
the  church  to  unite  with  him  in  the  call  of  a  mutual  coun- 
cil for  the  purpose  of  their  advice  in  the  premises. 

Though  he  was  calm  when  speaking,  his  people^  were 
deeply  affected  when  hearing.  Never  before,  probably, 
were  more  tears  shed  in  that  large  house  on  one  occasion 
than  then.  Never  before,  perhaps,  did  the  people  linger 
more,  as  if  reluctant  to  leave  their  slips,  than  then.  When 
the  pastor  descended  from  the  desk  he  was  surrounded 
by  his  weeping  parishioners,  and,  as  it  were,  with  one 
voice  asked,  "  What  does  all  this  mean,  Mr.  Eldridge?" 
"  We  shall  not  let  you  go."  "  Who  has  been  making 
statements  to  you  ?  " 

At  last,  however,  the  sorrowing  congregation  separated. 
It  was  frequently  wished  by  some  who  were  in  the  secret 
that  Deacon  Smith  and  his  company  had  not  been  in  such 
haste  to  leave  the  church  when  the  services  were  over.  It 
was  thought  that,  had  they  been  present,  a  rebuke  would 
have  been  administered  in  terms  that  would  have  never 
been  forgotten  by  them.  They  knew,  however,  that  they 
had  plunged  the  dagger,  and  did  not  care  to  witness  its  cruel 
effects. 


CHAPTER    XXXVIII. 

PARISH   MEETING   AND   COUNCIL. 

How  could  the  request  detailed  in  the  preceding  chapter 
be  made  without  producing  the  greatest  commotion  ?  All 
classes  were  roused  by  it,  and  every  household  circle  had 
it  for  a  common  theme  of  conversation.  Although  some 
of  the  people  were  aware  that  Deacon  Smith  and  a  few 
others  were  restless  and  attempting  the  sundering  of  ties 
which  had  most  happily  and  prosperously  bound  both  pas- 
tor and  people  for  twenty  years,  yet  more  were  in  entire 
ignorance  of  the  whole  matter.  The  multitude  felt  that 
Mr.  Eldridge  wras  as  much  as  ever  in  possession  of  the  love 
and  confidence  of  the  people. 

The  few  who  were  apprised  that  the  waters  of  strife 
were  being  stirred  did  not  realize  that  any  disastrous  con- 
sequence would  follow.  They  relied  for  the  safety  of  the 
parish  and  the  protection  of  the  pastor  upon  what  they 
supposed  was  the  general  love  and  respect  of  the  people 
for  Mr.  Eldridge.  Whatever  Deacon  Smith  and  those 
leagued  with  him  might  attempt,  it  was  supposed  by  such 
individuals  as  Doctor  Howard  and  Mr.  Clay  that  all  their 
efforts  would  be  futile.  When  the  great  body  of  the  peo- 
ple were  enlightened  in  the  course  which  had  been  pur- 
sued to  provoke  a  request  for  a  dismission,  they,  too,  were 
not  at  a  loss  for  the  disposition  such  a  request  would  have 
from  a  parish  vote.  Consequently  all  the  friends  of  Mr. 

(430) 


PARISH   MEETING   AND   COUNCIL.  431 

Eldridge  were  impatient  for  the  time  to  arrive  when  they 
could  turn  back  this  current  which  had  been  set  in  motion 
for  the  destruction  of  the  quietude  of  the  pastor  and  the 
peace  and  prosperity  of  the  parish.  They  were  persuaded 
that  this  might  be  most  easily  accomplished,  and  the  bright 
prospects  of  their  Zion  in  the  continued  usefulness  of  the 
pastor  be  fully  restored.  If  the  rebuke  which  might  be 
administered  in  an  overwhelming  vote  of  both  church  and 
parish  in  favor  of  the  pastor  should  not  indicate  to  the 
opposition  their  complete  impotency  to  do  with  Mr. 
Eldridge  as  they  pleased,  and  thus  lead  them  to  retrace 
their  steps  and  again  be  his  friends  and  supporters,  it  was 
supposed  that  these  individuals  Avould  at  once  leave  and 
become  attached  to  another  religious  community,  and  thus 
be  no  longer  the  means  of  dissension  in  their  present  re- 
lations. It  was  felt  and  argued  that  no  increased  burden 
would  be  imposed  upon  the  parish  should  such  be  the  ?esult. 
In  the  course  of  a  week  from  the  Wednesday  following 
the  Sabbath  on  which  Mr.  Eldridge  communicated  his  re- 
quest for  a  dismission,  there  was  a  meeting  of  the  church 
for  action  upon  it.  It  was  a  full  and  solemn  meeting.  To 
the  dismay  of  all,  neither  Deacon  Smith  nor  the  two  or 
three  other  brethren  in  sympathy  with  him  were  present. 
The  deacon  well  knew  the  position  of  his  brethren  in  the 
church  in  relation  to  the  pastor.  He  well  knew  that  he 
almost  stood  alone,  and  that  his  conduct  had  deeply  wound- 
ed many  a  heart  and  exposed  him  to  the  almost  general 
censure  of  his  brethren.  He  had  not  the  manliness,  the 
moral  courage,  the  encouragement  of  an  approving  con- 
science which  were  requisite  to  enable  him  to  confront 
those  whose  peace  he  had  invaded  and  whose  prospects  he 
had  attempted  to  cloud  and  freely  and  ungenerously  to 
state  the  motives  by  which  he  had  been  governed.  The 
communication  of  the  pastor  was  read  and  duly  consid- 
ered, and  the  vote  iii  relation  to  it  taken,  from  which  it 


432          A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

appeared  that  all  the  brethren  present  were  in  favor  of  the 
continuance  of  the  present  pastoral  relation.  Because  so 
general  a  development  was  made  at  this  meeting  of  the 
greatest  confidence  in  and  affection  for  the  pastor,  all 
who  were  present  felt  themselves  greatly  comforted  arid 
strengthened  in  their  convictions  that  the  enemy  would  be 
easily  foiled. 

The  parish  meeting  soon  followed.  When  that  oc- 
curred it  was  a  most  exciting  day  ;  for  every  one  was  im- 
pressed that  there  was  to  be  a  most  important  contest. 
The  enemy  might  cower  in  the  church  and  refuse  a  manly 
struggle,  and  yet  on  the  whole  no  important  advantage  bo 
lost ;  but  in  the  parish  there  must  be  action,  or  there  would 
be  defeat  ;  for  the  law  has  cognizance  only  of  civil  trans- 
actions, and  lays  no  claim  to  jurisdiction  over  those  which 
are  ecclesiastical.  All  seemed  to  feel  that  there  was  some- 
thing to  be  done  ;  and  at  the  hour  at  which  the  parish 
meeting  was  called  a  very  large  body  of  people  had  col- 
lected in  the  vestry  where  the  meeting  was  held.  It 
seemed  as  if  every  voter  was  present  to  share  in  the  trans- 
actions which  were  anticipated.  Squire  Davidson,  to  the 
surprise  of  almost  every  individual,  was  out.  Though  long 
confined  almost  to  the  house  with  the  infirmities  of  age, 
and.  as  he  supposed,  done  with  the  active  scenes  of  this 
worW,  yet  his  heart  being  deeply  affected  by  the  attempts 
which  were  making  to  remove  his  most  highly-esteemed 
pastor  from  the  pulpit  he  had  long  honored  and  the  people 
he  had  so  usefully  and  faithfully  served,  the  squire  girded 
himself  up  for  the  hour  of  battle,  and  appeared  in  tho 
vestry  with  that  energy  and  interest  which  perfectly  aston- 
ished every  one  present.  His  son  Charles,  who  for  years 
had  been  a  resident  in  the  town  where  he  was  born,  having 
left  Virginia  soon  after  the  death  of  his  mother  for  the 
purpose  of  relieving  his  father  by  his  sympathy  and  care, 
•was  likewise  no  uninterested  individual  in  this  assembly. 


PARISH  MEETING   AND   COUNCIL.  433 

Always  in  many  respects  like  his  father,  in  later  years  the 
resemblance  became  more  complete  by  the  addition  of  the 
graces  of  the  Christian,  to  whose  power  he  had  yielded  his 
heart  almost  from  the  date  of  his  return  to  his  present  home. 
Little  Arthur,  who  was  there  twenty  years  before  when 
Mr.  Eldridge  was  ordained,  was  in  this  meeting,  and  in- 
vested with  no  small  interest  in  its  results  ;  for  he  was  now 
an  inhabitant  of  the  town,  and  in  the  occupancy  of  the 
store  over  which  his  grandfather  so  long,  so  honorably, 
and  so  successfully  presided.  The  attendance  at  the  meet- 
ing was  so  large  that  it  would  be  by  far  the  easiest  task 
to  mention  the  names  of  the  few  in  Mr.  Eldridge's  parish 
who  were  absent  than  to  draw  up  a  catalogue  of  those 
who  were  present.  It  was  generally  reported  all  were 
out  at  this  meeting  but  such  as  were  detained  at  home  by 
infirmity  and  sickness. 

Of  course,  then,  Deacon  Smith  was  there*  Yes,  the 
deacon  was  there,  and  all  his  league.  There  were  more 
in  the  parish  than  in  the  church  who  were  in  sympa- 
thy with  him  in  his  feelings  towards  the  pastor,  and  con- 
sequently there  was  a  shield  here  in  an  increased  num- 
ber, which  emboldened  him  to  appear.  Though  the  wealth 
of  Colonel  Presbury  and  the  influence  which  opulence 
often  imparts  were  with  him,  yet  the  deacon  was  very  far 
from  exhibiting  in  his  countenance  a  happy  frame  of  spirit. 
As  he  entered  the  vestry,  and.  be  fore  the  meeting  was  or- 
ganized, he  had  every  indication  of  a  fear  that  he  was  a 
condemned  man  in  the  judgment  of  those  with  whom  he 
had  long  been  in  fellowship  in  sustaining  his  pastor  and 
forwarding  the  best  interests  of  the  parish,  and  a  con- 
sciousness, too,  that  his  own  soul  well  approved,  as  most 
merited,  this  condemnation.  He  and  the  colonel  were 
soon  seated  together,  and  near  them  were  the  minions 
wha  had  aided  them  in  bringing  matters  thus  far  to  the 
interruption  of  pastoral  peace  and  of  parochial  prosperity. 
37 


434  A   VOICE   FROM   THE   PARSONAGE. 

After  the  organization  of  the  meeting  and  the  reading 
of  the  communication  of  the  pastor,  the  committee  of  the 
church  presented  to  the  parish  the  action  of  that  body  in 
relation  to  it.  "Whereupon  a  motion  was  immediately 
offered  that  the  parish  concur  with  the  church  in  the  dis- 
position of  the  pastor's  request  for  a  dismission.  This 
motion  was  made  by  a  friend  of  Mr.  Eldridge,  who  sup- 
posed that  it  would  be  at  once  carried  by  a  large  majority, 
and  thus  the  unpleasant  business  of  the  meeting  be  summa- 
rily despatched,  to  the  confusion  and  shame  of  those  who 
had  been  laboring  for  another  result.  Other  members  of 
the  parish  and  ardent  friends  of  the  pastor  were  not  in- 
clined to  have  the  matter  thus  pass  off.  They  wished  a 
disclosure  from  those  who  had  been  active  in  creating  the 
present  excitement  of  the  reasons  by  which  they  had  been 
governed  ;  and  so,  as  one  and  another  opposed  the  motion, 
the  mover  thereof  at  once  withdrew  it.  A  pause  now 
ensued.  It  was  expected  that  some  of  the  individuals  to 
whom  it  belonged  to  make  this  disclosure  would  at  once 
be  sufficiently  magnanimous  to  gratify  the  assembly  with 
a  statement  of  the  ground  of  their  opposition  to  the  pas- 
tor ;  but  this  magnanimity  did  not  appear.  At  length 
Doctor  Howard,  after  a  conference  with  Squire  Davidson 
and  Mr.  Clay,  arose  and  gave  to  the  meeting  a  history  of 
the  difficulties  as  he  understood  them,  and  concluded  by 
calling  on  Deacon  Smith  and  Colonel  Presbury  and  in- 
quiring of  them  if  what  he  had  narrated  was  not  correct. 
These  gentlemen  could  not  now  well  be  silent.  They  had 
been  publicly  implicated,  and  necessity  was  laid  upon  them 
to  speak.  Deacon  Smith  accordingly  arose  and  remarked 
that  he  had,  it  was  true,  been  dissatisfied  for  some  time  with 
his  pastor,  and  that  others  were  likewise  dissatisfied.  He 
supposed  that  Mr.  Eldridge,  upon  becoming  acquainted  with 
the  fact  that  the  feelings  of  many  of  his  parishioners  had 
changed  towards  him,  would  at  once  perceive  that  ho 


PARISH   MEETING   AND   COUNCIL.  435 

could  no  longer  be  as  useful  in  his  present  relations  as  he 
had  been,  and  thus  be  disposed  in  a  silent  manner  to  seek 
a  dissolution  of  his  connection  with  this  people  and  enter 
another  field  of  labor.  He  further  remarked  that  he  had, 
in  company  with  Colonel  Presbury,  called  upon  the  pas- 
tor and  made  to  him  a  statement  of  the  difficulties  in  re- 
lation to  him.  Colonel  Presbury  followed,  and  briefly 
recapitulated  the  statements  of  the  deacon,  but  not  in  the 
least  degree  hinting  at  any  conduct  of  the  pastor  which 
had  provoked  his  dissatisfaction.  The  indefiniteness  of 
these  remarks  from  the  head  of  the  opposition  to  Mr.  El- 
dridge  impressed  the  multitude  present  with  great  dismay. 
It  was  supposed  that,  when  Deacon  Smith  and  Colonel 
Presbury  were  drawn  forth  to  define  their  position,  they 
would  at  length  give  their  reasons  for  their  conduct  in 
the  form  of  complaints  or  charges  against  the  pastor. 
But  no  ;  all  that  they  uttered  was  the  simple  fact  that 
they  and  some  others  were  dissatisfied!  Squire  David- 
son, it  was  observed,  sat  ill  at  ease  after  this  expose  of 
the  opposition,  and  at  once  rose  and  begged  the  privilege 
of  putting  a  few  questions  to  Deacon  Smith.  He  asked 
him  how  long  he  had  been  with  his  present  feelings 
towards  his  pastor.  To  this  it  was  replied,  "Not  a  year.' 
"  What  was  the  cause  of  his  opposition?"  Here  the  dea- 
con rendered  several  evasive  answers,  which  of  course 
were  unsatisfactory  to  his  intelligent  and  searching  cate- 
chist.  "  Was  not  the  beginning  of  your  opposition  the 
fidelity  of  the  pastor  with  your  son,  in  whose  behalf  you 
entreated  him  with  tears  to  interpose,  that  he  might  bo 
saved  from  ruin  ?  "  The  deacon  here  was  dumb.  "  Did 
you  not,"  continued  the  squire,  "  say  to  a  certain  individual 
that  your  son  had  deceived  you  in  relation  to  his  prom- 
ised reformation,  and  that  Mr.  Eldridge  had  more  eyea 
than  vourself,  and  consequently  was  better  informed  in  re- 
spect to  the  course  your  son  was  pursuing  than  you  were, 


436  A   VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

and  that,  had  you  known  at  the  beginning  all  that  you 
subsequently  ascertained,  your  feelings  towards  Mr.  El- 
dridge  would  have  been  different?"  To  this  the  deacon 
made  no  reply.  "Have  you  not  said,'7  the  squire  further 
asked,  "  that  you  thought  our  pastor  had  no  business  with 
the  conduct  of  individuals  —  that  it  was  wrong  for  him  to 
seek  out  the  faults  of  children  and  youth  in  his  parish  and 
blazeii  them  forth  to  the  world  ?  "  To  these  inquiries  the 
deacon  answered  not  a  word. 

"  As  the  deacon  is  not  inclined  to  reply  to  questions  like 
those  I  have  put  to  him,"  the  squire  remarked,  "I  will  in- 
quire of  him  further,  if  he  was  not  well  satisfied  with  Mr. 
Eldridge  up  to  the  time  that  he  requested  him  to  endeavor 
to  save  his  son."  The  deacon  at  once  replied  that  he  was. 
"  Was  it  not  your  opinion  a  year  ago  that  Mr.  Eldridge 
had  the  confidence  and  respect  of  all  classes  in  the  parish, 
and  that  he  had  been  from  year  to  year  increasing  in  his 
usefulness  among  the  people  ? "  The  deacon  replied  it 
was.  "Have  you  not  for  twenty  years  thought  that  Mr. 
Eldridge  was  peculiarly  adapted  to  this  people  ;  and  have 
you  not,  both  in  town  and  out,  often  declared  such  as  your 
opinion?"  "  Of  course  I  have,"  the  deacon  said.  "Now, 
then,"  said  the  squire,  "  I  will  ask  you  one  more  question. 
Do  you  think  it  fair  and  right  to  change  your  feelings 
towards  a  pastor  for  being  faithful  in  doing  what  you 
earnestly  requested  him  to  do  ?  It  seems  that  your  son 
became  enraged  at  the  watchfulness  and  fidelity  of  Mr. 
Eldridge,  and  that  you  have  sympathized  with  him  and 
become  an  enemy  to  your  pastor,  and  been  doing  all  that 
you  could  do  for  his  injury.  Now,  deacon,  is  this  right  ?  " 
The  deacon  was  evidently  sensible  of  his  position,  and  yet 
at  a  loss  to  know  how  to  extricate  himself  from  it.  He 
appeared  to  catch  the  popular  feeling  that  it  was  unfor- 
tunate for  him  to  reply  to  some  questions  and  be  silent  in 
relation  to  others ;  and  so  he  rallied  his  energies  and 


PARISH   MEETING  AND   COUNCIL.  437 

attempted  to  answer  the  squire's  last  questions,  but  most 
egregiously  failed.  He  justified  himself  in  his  opposition 
to  Mr.  Eldridge,  and  affirmed  that  he  never  could  again  be 
reconciled  to  him  as  his  minister. 

Having  drawn  from  the  deacon  thus  much,  which  was 
sufficient  to  show  his  palpable  inconsistency,  most  glaring 
treachery,  and  excessive  cruelty  to  his  pastor,  the  squire 
turned  to  the  colonel  for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining  his 
reasons  for  being  desirous  that  his  pastor  should  leave. 
The  colonel  instantly  responded  that  he  had  been  dissatis- 
fied with  Mr.  Eldridge  for  many  years.  He  thought  that 
he  had  gone  out  of  his  proper  sphere  of  action  frequently 
and  concerned  himself  with  matters  which  ought  not  to 
have  occupied  his  attention.  Though  he  had  been  thus 
opposed,  he  had  not  made  his  feelings  any  way  public  un- 
til recently.  He  did  not  wish  to  injure  the  minister ;  and 
therefore,  whilst  others  were  satisfied  with  him,  he  was  not 
disposed  to  disturb  them  in  their  enjoyment.  The  colonel 
proceeded  some  time  in  this  course  of  general,  indefinite 
remark,  and  of  course  did  not  satisfy  any  of  those  who 
wished  for  some  tangible  matter  in  relation  to  the  conduct 
or  preaching  of  Mr.  Eldridge.  Squire  Davidson,  as  Col- 
onel Presbury  was  about  taking  his  seat,  observed,  that  he 
would  be  pleased  to  have  the  gentleman  a  little  more  ex- 
plicit in  his  declarations  of  dissatisfaction  with  the  pastor. 
For  this  purpose  he  would  inquire,  "  How  many  years  since 
the  colonel  became  dissatisfied  with  the  pastor  ?  " 

The  colonel  replied  "  it  must  be  ten  or  twelve  since  he 
first  began  to  dislike  him  ;  and  that  he  had  been  growing 
more  and  more  dissatisfied  ever  since." 

"What  was  the  occasion  of  this  dissatisfaction,"  the 
squire  asked,  "  ten  or  twelve  years  ago  ?  It  must  have 
been  excited  by  some  act  or  actions  of  the  pastor,  or  by 
some  discourse  or  discourses  of  his ;  and  he  would  like  to 
have  the  gentleman  particular  and  explicit  in  the  matter." 
37* 


438  A  VOICE  FROM  THE   PARSONAGE. 

The  colonel  replied  "  that  he  had  thought  for  years  that 
Mr.  Eldridge  allowed  himself  to  attend  to  things  foreign 
to  his  profession." 

"  What  things?  "  "  What  things  ?  "  inquired  several  indi- 
viduals at  once. 

"Yes,"  said  the  squire,  "what  things,  colonel,  are  there 
with  which  our  pastor  has  been  imprudently  concerned  ?  " 

Whilst  the  colonel  was  reflecting  a  moment  for  a  reply 
his  cogitations  were  assisted  by  the  inquiry  from  a  num- 
ber of  voices,  if  the  old  parish  debt  was  not  one  of  the 
things,  and  repairing  the  church  and  supplying  it  with  an 
organ  another. 

"  Yes,"  said  the  colonel ;  "  I  confess  these  two  things  are 
what  have  disgusted  me  with  our  minister.  I  think  a 
parish  ought  to  be  allowed  to  pay  its  own  debts  and  to 
repair  its  meeting  house  when  and  how  it  pleases.  A 
minister  has  no  business  to  meddle  with  those  affairs." 

Mr.  Clay  then  inquired  of  the  colonel  "  if  he  were  not 
in  favor  of  having  the  old  parish  debt  liquidated,  and  if 
he  did  not  often  say,  before  it  was  paid,  that  the  parish 
ought  to  sell  their  lands  and  pay  their  debts." 

The  colonel  replied  that  he  was  desirous  of  having  the 
debt  paid  with  the  proceeds  of  the  sale  of  the  lands. 
He  was  then  asked  if  Mr.  Eldridge  ever  expressed  an 
opinion  as  to  the  manner  in  which  the  debt  should  be 
paid,  and  if  the  debt  was  not  paid  as  the  parish  saw  fit  to 
have  it. 

He  replied  that  Mr.  Eldridge  never  expressed  any  other 
opinion  on  the  subject,  as  he  was  aware,  but  that  the 
parish  debt  should  be  paid,  and  that  the  parish  voted  to 
pay  it  by  tax. 

"  Then  why  attach  any  blame  to  Mr.  Eldridge  in  this  mat- 
ter ? "  Squire  Davidson  asked  ;  "  as  you  allow  the  debt 
ought  to  be  paid,  and  that  the  parish  voted  that  it  should 


PARISH  MEETING   AND    COUNCIL.  439 

be  paid  by  a  tax,  and  that  Mr.  Eldridge  never  expressed  any 
opinion  in  conflict  with  your  own  in  relation  to  the  inatter" 

"  Now,  colonel,"  inquired  the  squire,  "  were  you  not  in 
favor  of  repairing  the  church  ?  " 

"  Yes  ;  I  was,"  the  colonel  said  ;  "  but  I  wished  it  done 
by  subscription,  and  not  by  a  tax." 

"Did  Mr.  Eldridge  advocate  a  tax?" 

"  Not  that  I  ever  heard,"  the  colonel  replied. 

"  Then,"  said  the  squire,  "why  Uame  Mr.  Eldridge  in 
the  matter  ?  He  was  for  having  the  debt  paid,  and  then 
he  was  for  having  the  church  repaired,  because  he  con- 
ceived the  prosperity  of  the  parish  would  be  thereby 
greatly  advanced.  He  said  nothing  of  the  manner  in 
which  these  things  should  be  accomplished,  but  left  it  to 
the  consideration  of  the  people.  Why  Uame  Mr.  Eldridge, 
colonel?"  the  squire  asked,  with  much  emotion.  "It 
seems  that  you  were  dissatisfied  with  the  parish  for  think- 
ing it  proper  to  have  the  debt  paid  and  the  church  re- 
paired by  a  tax,  and  that  you  seek  revenge  for  the  doings 
of  the  parish  on  the  poor  minister.  He  must  be  dismissed 
because  the  parish  voted  to  do  thus  and  so,  though  he  had 
not  any  influence  whatever  in  the  doings  of  the  parish, 
nor  had  he  attempted  any  influence." 

Dr.  Howard  here  remarked,  "  that  he  had  understood 
the  colonel  to  say  that  he  had  confined  his  opposition  to 
Mr.  Eldridge  within  his  own  breast  until  recently,  because 
lie  was  not  disposed  to  interrupt  the  enjoyment  of  any  in 
their  pastor.  If  this  has  been  his  position,"  the  doctor  ob- 
served, "  rumor  has  done  him  great  injustice  ;  for  he  had 
been  charged  with  having  said,  when  the  tax  was  made  for 
the  repairs  of  the  church,  that  lie  would  in  some  way  or  other 
effect  the  dismission  of  Mr.  Eldridge.  In  accordance  with 
this  assertion,  this  same  rumor  had  charged  the  colonel 
with  having  purchased  the  store  now  occupied  by  Mr. 
Pixon  for  the  ver$  purpose  of  having  a  place  of  rendezvous 


440  A   VOICE   FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

where  recruits  in  the  war  against  the  pastor  might  be 
drilled,  and  from  whence  an  influence  should  go  out  to  the 
hurt  of  the  pastor.  This  same  rumor  has  charged  him 
with  having  opened  his  house  for  secret  meetings  to  devise 
ways  and  means  for  effecting  the  dismission  of  Mr.  El- 
dridge,  and  with  having  suggested  to  Mr.  Otis  to  say  to 
Mr.  Conner,  who  was  then  supplying  the  pastor  with 
wood,  that  he  had  better  put  in  small  trash,  and  yet  charge  the 
same  price  as  for  merchantable  wood,  promising  him  if  he 
would  do  this  vile  thing  that  he  would  liberally  reward 
him.  These  and  other  charges  rumor  has  made  against 
the  colonel,"  the  doctor  remarked,  "  and  he  believed  there 
was  considerable  evidence  at  hand  to  show  that  she  has 
in  these  things  not  charged  falsely." 

Colonel  Presbury  now  found  himself  in  an  uncomfortable 
condition,  which  he  manifested  in  abuse  of  the  doctor  and 
others  in  no  measured  terms.  He  did  not  deny  the  charges 
which  had  been  recited  by  the  doctor,  but  very  boister- 
ously and  vehemently  declaimed  against  the  pastor,  and  said, 
if  he  were  not  dismissed,  the  parish  would  be  broken  to 
pieces. 

Mr.  Charles  Davidson  inquired  of  Deacon  Smith  "  if  he 
or  those  opposed  to  Mr.  Eldridge  thought  that  there  was 
any  abatement  in  the  pastor's  power  in  the  pulpit  or  ac- 
tivity among  the  people." 

The  deacon  replied,  "  that  every  one  confessed  that  Mr. 
Eldridge  was  a  good  preacher,  and  a  diligent  scholar,  and 
an  active  minister.  We  all  know  these  things,"  the  deacon 
said  ;  "but,  then,  there  is  now  such  a  prejudice  against 
him  that  we  think  it  will  be  most  for  his  comfort,  usefulness, 
and  reputation  that  he  labor  in  some  other  community." 

At  this  stage  of  the  meeting  Squire  Davidson  arose  and 
remarked,  "  that  it  must  be  evident  to  all  the  parish  what 
were  the  reasons  which  had  governed  the  opposition  to  the 
pastor.  Colonel  Presbury  became  dissatisfied  because  the 


PARISH   MEETING  AND   COUNCIL.  441 

parish  saw  fit  feo  raise  a  tax  for  the  liquidation  of  the  old 
parish  debt  and  for  the  repairing  of  the  church.  The 
colonel  admits  that  he  was  in  favor  of  both  these  measures, 
but  wished  to  have  the  manner  of  raising  funds  for  their 
execution  different.  He  admits  that  Mr.  Eldridge,  to  his 
knowledge,  never  expressed  any  opinion  in  relation  to  the 
way  in  which  the  debt  should  be  paid  or  the  money  for 
the  repairs  of  the  church  be  raised,  and  yet  he  grounds  his 
dissatisfaction  with  the  pastor  on  the  sermons  which  ho 
preached  to  stir  up  the  people  to  accomplish  these  very 
desirable  objects.  Had  there  been  no  tax,  it  is  clear  the 
colonel  would  never  have  been  opposed  to  tlie.  pastor.  Had  the 
parish  lands  been  sold  for  the  one  object,  and  a  subscrip- 
tion made  for  the  other,  the  colonel  thinks  he  would  have 
been  saved  a  few  hundred  dollars !  Because  he  could  not  do 
this  he  comes  down  with  all  his  vengeance  upon  the  minis- 
ter, and  must  have  him  dismissed.  In  regard  to  Deacon. 
Smith,"  the  squire  observed,  "  the  case  was  simply  this. 
His  son  became  enraged  with  the  pastor  for  doing  what 
the  father,  with  tears  in  his  eyes,  besought  the  good  man 
to  do.  The  wayward  child  deceived  his  father,  and  made 
him  believe  that  the  pastor  was  excessively  uncharitable, 
and  unreasonably  severe  and  slanderous  in  his  accusations  ; 
and  so  the  deacon  at  once  sympathizes  with  the  son,  and, 
without  any  conference  with  the  pastor  for  explanation,  be- 
comes his  inveterate  enemy.  Now,"  continued  the  squire, 
"  these  two  individuals,  Colonel  Prcsbury  and  Deacon 
Smith,  have  fomented  all  the  excitement  which  exists  against 
the  pastor.  About  the  period  that  the  deacon's  feelings 
became  estranged  towards  Mr.  Eldridge  Colonel  Pres- 
bury  had  many  logs  at  the  deacon's  mill  to  be  sawed. 
Consequently  he  and  the  deacon  were  often  together,  and 
it  became  manifest  to  each  other  that  both  felt  alike  to- 
wards the  pastor ;  and  from  this  time  have  they  acted 
together  in  relation  to  his  dismission.  There  have  always 


442  A   VOICE   FROM  THE  PAKSONAGE. 

been  those  in  the  parish  (it  is  so  in  every  parish)  who  are 
ready  to  take  up  arms  against  the  minister  under  certain 
influences  which  are  excited  by  wealth  and  station.  These 
individuals  have  been  summoned  forth  by  the  deacon  and 
colonel  ;  and  there  has  been,  it  seems,  constant  agitation 
for  nearly  a  year  in  secret  places,  and  always  under  covert, 
for  the  purpose  of  effecting  the  dismission  of  our  minister. 
This  agitation  has  been  begun  and  carried  on  by  the  in- 
fluence of  Deacon  Smith  and  Colonel  Presbury ;  and  if  Mr. 
Eldridge  should  be  dismissed,  these  two  individuals  will 
have  been  the  whole  cause  of  such  dismission.  But  for 
them  there  would  now  have  been  peace  and  prosperity  in 
this  church  and  parish." 

Colonel  Presbury  and  Deacon  Smith  each  replied  to  the 
squire,  and  they  were  both  understood  to  admit  that  they 
were  not  assigned  a  false  position  by  the  gentleman  who 
last  spoke.  They  both  urged  the  necessity  of  Mr.  El- 
dridge's  dismission  on  the  ground  that,  if  he  did  remain, 
there  would  be  a  great  falling  off  in  the  congregation,  as 
a  new  meeting  house  would  be  immediately  built  and  an- 
other church  and  society  formed. 

To  this  a  number  of  individuals  replied  at  much  length, 
and  illustrated  in  a  variety  of  ways  the  impossibility  of 
another  society  being  able  to  gather  sufficient  strength  to 
live  and  flourish. 

Evening  now  being  near,  and  as  many  present  resided 
remotely  from  the  place  of  meeting,  a  motion  was  made 
for  an  adjournment  for  two  weeks.  From  the  manner  in 
which  this  motion  was  received,  it  was  evident  that  the 
meeting  was  not  yet  prepared  for  an  adjournment.  From 
several  -parts  of  the  house  the  desire  was  expressed  that 
there  might  be  a  declaration  of  feeling  in  relation  to  the 
main  business  of  the  meeting  ;  viz.,  to  act  upon  the  com- 
munication of  the  pastor.  Accordingly,  for  the  gratifica- 
tion of  this  desire,  the  motion  for  adjournment  was  with- 


PARISH   MEETING   AND   COUNCIL.  443 

drawn,  when  Mr.  Clay  moved  that  the  parish  concur  with 
the  church  in  its  disposal  of  the  request  of  Rev.  Mr. 
Eldridge  for  a  dismission.  As  soon  as  this  motion  was 
seconded,  Colonel  Presbury  arose  and  addressed  the  meet- 
ing at  great  length.  He  set  forth  the  ease  with  which  the 
whole  difficulty  might  be  settled  by  the  quiet  withdrawal  of  the 
pastor  to  another  field  of  labor,  which  he  doubted  not  ho 
could  soon  find.  He  spoke  of  the  evils  of  having  two 
societies,  where,  in  reality,  only  one  was  needed  ;  and  ho 
urged  all  to  consider  well  before  they  voted  on  the  mo- 
tion now  before  them. 

Mr.  Otis,  Mr.  Dixon,  and  one  or  two  others  of  the  op- 
position spoke  pretty  much  after  the  manner  of  the  colo- 
nel. The  motion  being  now  called  for  by  several  voices, 
it  was  put,  when  it  was  discovered  that  but  nineteen  were 
in  the  negative. 

When  this  vote  was  declared  it  was  apparent  that  the 
opposition  were  surprised  at  the  comparative  smallness  of 
their  number.  They  manifested  such  surprise  by  an  at- 
tempt for  a  reconsideration  of  the  vote,  in  which,  through 
the  courtesy  of  one  of  the  majority  in  moving  for  such  re- 
consideration, they  were  successful.  The  meeting  was 
then  adjourned  for  two  weeks. 

Deacon  Smith  and  the  colonel,  on  the  next  day  after 
this  meeting,  were  seen  earnestly  engaged  in  conversation 
with  different  people  belonging  to  the  parish.  It  was 
thought  that  they  were  invested  with  new  zeal  in  their  op- 
position to  the  pastor  ;  for  almost  every  subsequent  day 
brought  the  report  of  their  activity  hither  and  thither  in 
the  parish.  It  was  soon  found  that  they  were  pursuing  a 
different  policy  from  that  which  had  hitherto  governed 
them.  Instead  of  cautiously  conversing  with  individuals 
to  ascertain  how  strong  were  their  sympathies  for  the  pas- 
tor, and  never  betraying  their  own  hostility  when  such 
sympathy  was  strong  in  his  favor,  they  now  boldly  avowed 


444  A   VOICE   FROM  THE   PARSONAGE. 

their  dissatisfaction,  and  urged  all  who  would  not  ha\e 
the  church  and  parish-  rent  asunder  to  favor  the  dismission 
of  Mr.  Eldridge.  Instead  of  waiting  for  individuals  to 
come  in  their  way,  they  now  went  about  among  the  fami- 
lies and  endeavored  to  bring  all  over  to  their  own  views 
of  church  and  parish  duty  and  interest.  It  would  have 
been  singular  if,  by  such  a  course,  they  had  not  succeeded 
in  shaking  the  faith  of  some  'and  changing  the  policy  of 
others.  The  deacon  would  urge  a  variety  of  reasons  as 
occasion  might  demand  to  induce  those  whom  he  called 
upon  to  change  their  vote.  He  would  appeal  to  the  ava- 
rice of  some  by  showing  how  much  more  the  taxes  would 
be  for  parish  purposes  if  Mr.  Eldridge  should  continue. 
He  would  appeal  to  the  pride  of  some  whose  boast  had 
often  been  that  their  parish  was  remarkable  for  its  unity 
and  for  the  accommodating  spirit  of  its  members.  He 
would  address  the  pacific  feelings  of  some  by  portraying 
the  many  evils  which  would  come  upon  the  people  if  there 
should  be  two  rival  societies.  Whether  by  the  efforts  of 
the  deacon  or  colonel  or  not  the  change  was  effected,  it  is 
not  known  ;  but  it  began  to  be  rife  in  the  community  be- 
fore the  expiration  of  the  time  for  which  the  parish  meet- 
ing was  adjourned  that  several  had  altered  tlieir  minds,  and, 
all  things  considered,  that  they  thought  it  would  behest  for  the 
people  and  best  for  Mr.  Eldridge  if  he  should  go.  Many 
of  these  spoke  in  the  highest  terms  of  the  pastor,  and 
deeply  regretted  the  necessity  for  his  leaving,  when,  had 
they  stood  firm,  and  had  all  stood  firm,  there  would  have 
been  no  such  necessity,  though  Deacon  Smith  and  Colonel 
Presbury  had  not  abated  aught  of  their  active  hostility. 
In  consequence  of  its  being  believed  that  the  rumor 
above  noticed  was  correct,  it  was  judged  best  by  Mr.  El- 
dridge and  some  of  his  best  friends  at  last,  in  consequence 
of  his  wishes  to  have  it  so,  that  if  at  the  parish  meeting  it 
should  be  found  that  any  very  considerable  number,  though 


PARISH  MEETING  AND   COUNCIL.  445 

not  amounting  to  a  majority,  should  deem  it  expedient  for 
him  to  leave,  for  all  to  acquiesce  in  the  measure. 

The  day  to  which  the  parish  meeting  was  adjourned 
having  arrived,  at  the  hour  appointed  might  have  been 
seen  about  the  same  attendance  as  at  the  previous  meet- 
ing. As  the  attention  of  the  parish  was  called  to  the  first 
business,  to  wit,  the  consideration  of  the  pastor's  request 
for  a  dismission,  Mr.  Babcock,  one  of  the  pastor's  friend?, 
arose  and  remarked  that  he  had  a  motion  to  make  which 
might  astonish  and  pain  many  who  should  hear  it.  "  Since 
the  last  meeting,"  he  continued,  "I  have  hardly  thought 
long  upon  any  other  subject  but  the  one  which  has  here 
called  us  together  ;  and  I  have  come  to  the  conclusion  that 
for  the  sake  of  peace,  for  the  sake  of  preserving  together  this 
parish,  it  might  be  best  for  our  pastor  to  leave  its.  If  he 
should,  I  feel  that  I  can  never  again  have  so  faithful  and 
instructive  a  pastor  ;  but,  for  the  sake  of  peace,  I  am  willing  to 
give  him  up !  I  therefore  move  that  in  the  opinion"  of  the 
parish,  all  things  considered,  it  is  best  that  the  relation 
of  Mr.  Eldridge  as  pastor  should  be  dissolved." 

Though  it  was  known  that  Mr.  Babcock  was  an  amia- 
ble and  lovely  man,  yet  it  was  a  matter  of  surprise  to 
all  that  he  should  make  such  a  motion,  because  of  his 
strong  attachment  to  his  pastor.  This  act  of  his  was  con- 
sidered as  ^.'precursor  of  a  somewhat  general  change  of  feel- 
ing on  the  part  of  Mr.  Eldridge's  friends,  and  of  course  it 
was  felt  by  some  that  the  question  was  virtually  decided 
that  the  pastor  must  leave.  There  was  much  discussion 
under  this  motion  of  the  whole  matter,  in  which  a  large 
number  of  individuals  participated.  Squire  Davidson,  Dr. 
Howard,  and  many  others  with  great  feeling  opposed  the 
motion  :  whilst  it  was  advocated,  not  only  by  Deacon  Smith 
and  Colonel  Presbury,  but  by  several  who  were  known  to 
be  true  friends  to  the  pastor.  These  last  advocated  the 
dissolution  of  the  pastoral  relation  entirely  on  the  ground 
38 


446  A  VOICE  FROM  THE   PARSONAGE. 

of  expediency  ;  and  some  of  the  thrusts  which  were  made  at 
Deacon  Smith  and  Colonel  Presbury  for  their  agency  in 
bringing  matters  to  the  present  crisis  were  so  direct  and  se- 
vere as  to  make  it  almost  impossible  for  them  to  consider 
those  individuals,  though  with  them  in  the  present  measure, 
as  with  them  in  any  other.  At  length  the  vote  was  taken, 
and  it  appeared  that  fifty-two  were  in  favor  of  the  motion. 

This  vote,  though  by  no  means  approaching  a  third,  was 
deemed  by  some  of  the  pastor's  friends  who  had  his  pecu- 
liar confidence  as  being  such  a  test  of  feeling  as  he  desired 
should  decide  the  question  of  his  remaining.  Accordingly 
it  was  moved  that  the  last  vote  be  reconsidered,  which 
was  done  ;  when  the  same  motion  was  made  and  put  again, 
and  carried  by  forty-three  votes  in  favor  and  none  against. 

The  church  soon  after  had  a  meeting  for  the  considera- 
tion of  this  matter ;  and  inasmuch  as  a  vote  had  been 
carried  in  the  parish  in  favor  of  the  dismission  of  Mr.  El- 
dridge,  the  church  so  far  acquiesced  in  the  arrangement  as 
to  vote  to  unite  with  the  pastor  in  the  calling  of  a  council 
to  submit  the  whole  matter  to  them  for  advice. 

It  may  appear  strange  to  those  who  take  a  cursory  view 
of  the  subject  that  such  a  change  should  have  been  effect- 
ed in  the  feelings  of  Mr.  Eldridge's  parishioners  as  to 
bring  matters  thus  far  to  favor  his  dismission.  Many  con- 
siderations in  the  period  of  dissatisfaction  with  a  minister 
affect  the  judgment  of  a  people.  When  the  question  of  his 
dismission  is  remote,  for  the  reason  that  the  majority  do  not 
think  it  probable  that  the  alienation  existing  in  the  breasts 
of  a  few  will  ever  amount  to  any  thing,  it  is  very  common 
for  them  to  feel  and  to  act  as  though  they  would  part  with 
a  right  hand  as  soon  as  part  with  their  pastor.  But  when 
this  alienation  waxes  into  hot  opposition  and  it  looks  as 
if  there  would  be  serious  trouble  to  the  church  and  parish 
unless  the  cause  of  it  be  removed,  then  many  who  are  en- 
tirely satisfied  with  their  pastor  begin  to  think  that,  on  the 


PARISH  MEETING  AND   COUNCIL.  447 

whole,  the  easiest  and  surest  way  to  quell  the  storm  and  bring- 
back  harmony  in  the  different  circles  of  the  community  is 
for  the  pastor  to  leave.  It  will  be  but  a  little  thing  for  him 
to  look  up  another  parish,  and  then  the  one  he  leaves  will 
be  tranquil  and  happy!  Thus  easily  is  a  minority,  a 
small  minority,  of  malcontents  in  a  parish  successful  by 
the  votes  of  those  who  all  along  have  condemned  their 
course.  Thus  it  is  that  such  malcontents  are  encouraged  in 
their  work  of  mischief  and  ruin. 

In  due  time  a  council  assembled,  in  accordance  with 
the  invitation  of  the  church  and  pastor.  They  spent  two 
days  and  a  half  in  hearing  testimony  and  in  canvassing 
the  matters  submitted  to  their  consideration,  and  at  length 
arrived  at  a  result,  of  which  the  following  is  the  sub- 
stance :  — 

"  The  council  have,  with  careful  and  patient  delibera- 
tion, examined  into  the  condition  of  the  church  and  peo- 
ple. They  are  entirely  satisfied  in  the  belief  that  for 
twenty  years  Rev.  Mr.  Eldridge  had  in  a  remarkable  de- 
gree the  love  and  confidence  of  his  people.  This  position 
he  enjoyed,  as  the  council  think,  because  of  his  uniform 
character  for  prayerfulncss,  for  fidelity  in  preaching  the 
true  doctrines  of  the  Bible,  for  fostering  with  lively  inter- 
est the  various  benevolent  societies  of  the  day,  and  for  hi* 
interest  in  all  classes  of  his  parish.  The  young  and  the 
old,  the  rich  and  the  poor,  have  alike  been  the  objects  of 
his  faithful  interest  and  care.  From  the  testimony  sub- 
mitted there  cannot  be  a  doubt  that  the  pastor  has  been  a 
most  laborious  student  and  a  most  faithful  shepherd  ;  and 
the  council  extremely  regret  that  he  should  have  been  in- 
terrupted by  any  dissensions  among  the  people  in  his  useful 
labors  and  in  carrying  out  the  cherished  purpose  of  his 
life.  The  council  have  had  no  evidence  presented  to 
them  for  showing  that  the  pastor  has  not  been  wise  and 
prudent.  On  the  contrary,  much  has  been  submitted 


448  A  VOICE  FROM  THE   PARSONAGE. 

which  presents  him  as  distinguished  in  a  remarkable 
manner  for  wisdom  and  discretion,  and  for  having  those 
traits  of  character  which  fit  him  for  extensive  useful- 
ness. 

"  In  the  present  situation  of  both  pastor  and  people  we 
have  striking  proof  of  the  power  of  an  individual  to  pro- 
duce alienation  and  strife  —  to  produce  discord  and  ca- 
lamity. Truly  '  one  sinner  destroyeth  much  good.'  It 
seems,  by  the  evidence  before  the  council,  that  one  indi- 
vidual took  offence  for  having  been  obliged  to  pay  a  tax 
at  two  distinct  periods  and  for  different  objects  when  he 
thought  the  parish  could  have  gained  their  purposes  in. 
another  manner.  Because  the  pastor  called  attention 
in  his  sermons  to  these  different  objects,  which  required 
the  attention  of  the  parish,  would  they  look  out  well  for 
their  own  prosperity,  this  individual  became  inimical  to 
him,  though  he  confessed  that  the  pastor  had  advocated 
nothing  more  than  what  was  reasonable  and  proper.  If 
the  pastor  had  not  preached  two  sermons,  — one  in  favor 
of  liquidating  an  old  parish  debt,  and  the  other  in  favor 
of  remodelling  the  church,  —  this  wealthy  individual 
thought  there  would  have  been  no  call  for  money,  and 
thus  his  own  purse  would  have  been  untouched.  Because 
it  was  touched,  he  became  dissatisfied  with  the  pastor  and 
vowed  vengeance  upon  him.  So  craftily,  though  slowly, 
this  individual  endeavored  to  undermine  the  pastor  ;  but  it 
probably  would  have  been  a  hopeless  undertaking  had  not 
an  officer  of  this  church  confederated  with  him.  When  the 
council  consider  the  circumstances  in  which  Deacon  Smith 
was  when  he  avowed  opposition  to  his  pastor,  they  are 
overwhelmed  with  the  deepest  sorrow  at  the  ingratitude 
which  followed  the  faithful  efforts  pf  the  pastor  to  restore 
an  erring  son  to  his  right  mind,  to  the  arms  of  an  affec- 
tionate father.  From  these  two  individuals,  therefore,  the 
council  are  convinced  the  present  difficulties  in  the  parish 


PARISH  MEETING   AND  ^COUNCIL.  449 

have  arisen.  Had  Colonel  Presbury  and  Deacon  Smith 
not  allowed  themselves  to  act  as  they  have  acted,  we  are 
satisfied  we  should  have  had  no  duties  to  discharge  here. 
The  council  exceedingly  regret  that  the  pastor's  friends  did 
not  all  of  them  remain  steadfast.  Had  they  done  so,  there 
probably  would  haw  been  no  cause  for  the  rupture  of  ties 
which  have  bound  pastor  and  people  for  so  many  years. 
Had  they  remained  steadfast,  they  had  not  encouraged  evil 
doers  in  their  work  of  iniquity. 

"  As  matters  now  are  in  the  parish,  the  council  see  no 
other  alternative  for  the  settlement  of  their  difficulties  but 
the  dismission  of  the  pastor.  Though  painful  in  the  ex- 
treme to  them,  they  do  advise  to  his  dismission  ;  and  they 
most  sincerely  commend  him  to  the  churches  as  a  most  able 
and  efficient  minister  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

"  The  council  would  sympathize  with  their  dear  brother 
in  his  blasted  hopes.  They  know  his  views  —  and  greatly 
appreciate  them  —  of  the  importance  of  the  permanent 
ministry,  arid  they  deeply  deplore  the  unrighteous  causes 
which  have  severed  him  from  a  people  to  whom  he  has 
been  singularly  useful,  and  in  whose  service  it  was  his 
hope  to  remain  till  death.  Their  prayer  is,  that  he  may 
be  divinely  sustained  and  directed." 
38* 


CHAPTER    XXXIX. 


THE   EX-PASTOR. 

IT  would  be  difficult  to  discover  stronger  emotions  to- 
wards those  not  connected  with  an  individual  by  the  bonds 
of  nature  than  what  the  faithful  pastor  cherishes  towards 
the  people  of  his  charge.  His  grand  purpose  of  life,  one 
for  which  his  entire  education  and  his  complete  energies 
are  consecrated,  being  to  serve  his  Lord  and  Savior  here 
upon  the  earth  in  gathering  unto  him  many  sons  and 
daughters,  it  is  impossible  for  him  to  have  any  other  feel- 
ings towards  the  people  of  his  charge  but  those  of  the 
warmest  sympathy  and  the  most  unwearied  care.  He 
contemplates  them  all  as  born  to  immortality,  and  he  feels 
that  he  has  been  commissioned  as  an  instrument  for  arrest- 
ing their  attention  to  this  exalted  birthright,  and  to  guide 
their  feet  in  the  narrow  path  which  conducts  to  eternal 
joys.  He  is  impelled,  therefore,  to  activity  for  their  good 
both  by  the  deepest  love  for  his  Savior  and  the  warmest 
affection  for  his  people.  So  much  absorbed  is  lie  in  the 
welfare  of  his  people  that  he  is  interested  in  every  event 
in  which  they  are  interested.  In  their  concerns  of  time, 
their  plans,  and  in  their  success,  in  their  individual  inter- 
ests and  their  social  capacity,  the  faithful  pastor  has  al- 
most the  same  strength  of  feeling  which  throbs  in  their 
own  bosoms.  Are  they  prosperous  in  their  worldly  pro- 
jects, he  rejoices.  Are  they  hindered  in  these  and  disap- 


THE   EX-PASTOR.  451 

pointed,  and  consequently  in  trial  at  their  disappointments, 

he  is  likewise  tried  with  them,  and  ready,  by  counsel  and 

other  aid,  to  cheer  them  in  further  attempts  at  success. 

Does  disease  attack  any  of  his  beloved  people,  the  pastor 

is  at  their  bedsides  to  sympathize  both  with  the  invalid 

and  those  bound  to  the  sick  one  by  love,  and  fervently 

tg  to  the  great  Physician  to  send  healing  remedies, 

once  stop  the  wasting  process  and  give  strength  and 

.     Does  the  great  foe  of  humanity,  Death,  invade  any 

in  community  of  the  pastor,  what  friend  is  sooner 

house  of  mourning  than  he,  or  with  more  compassion 

heart  or  sympathy  on  his  tongue  ?     Whatever  may 

5  condition  of  his  people  the  pastor  is  quick  to  learn 

)  know,  and  as  ready  to  aid  in  making  all  their  varied 

ience  contribute  to  work  out  for  them  a  welfare  as 

complete,  and  durable  as  can  be  found  around  the 

3  of  Jehovah. 

•-  the  connection  between  pastor  and  people  subsisted 
ars  ;  has  he  received  from  them  many  and  varied 
dons  of  their  affection,  confidence,  and  esteem  ;  has 
love  for  those  over  whom  the  Holy  One  made  him 
r  augmented  with  every  revolving  year  ;    has  ho 
mg  for  joy  and  praised  his  God  and  Savior  for  giv- 
ing him  so  many  seals  of  his  ministry  and  crowns  of  his 
eternal  rejoicing  ;  and  does  he  with  pride  contemplate  his 
mature  powers  and  enlarged  experience  as  furnishing  him 
with  greater  power  to  do  his  Master's  work  and  gather 
still  a  larger  number  of  seals  and  crowns  than  what  are 
already  garnered  up  ;  and  in  his  revery  is  he  disturbed  by 
a  faint  rumor  that  Dissension  is  taking  her  seat  in  the 
breasts  of  one  or  two  of  the  prominent  individuals  of  his 
charge  ;  does  this  rumor,  though  scouted  by  the  multitude, 
as  telling  of  something  which  can  never  do  harm,  yet 
haunt  the  good  man  in  his  study,  and  in  his  walks,  and  in 
all  his  ways  to  such  an  extent  as  to  give  rise  to  the  fear 


CHAPTER    XXXIX. 


THE   EX-PASTOR. 

IT  would  be  difficult  to  discover  stronger  emotions  to- 
wards those  not  connected  with  an  individual  by  the  bonds 
of  nature  than  what  the  faithful  pastor  cherishes  towards 
the  people  of  his  charge.  His  grand  purpose  of  life,  one 
for  which  his  entire  education  and  his  complete  energies 
are  consecrated,  being  to  serve  his  Lord  and  Savior  here 
upon  the  earth  in  gathering  unto  him  many  sons  and 
daughters,  it  is  impossible  for  him  to  have  any  other  feel- 
ings towards  the  people  of  his  charge  but  those  of  the 
warmest  sympathy  and  the  most  unwearied  care.  He 
contemplates  them  all  as  born  to  immortality,  and  he  feels 
that  he  has  been  commissioned  as  an  instrument  for  arrest- 
ing their  attention  to  this  exalted  birthright,  and  to  guide 
their  feet  in  the  narrow  path  which  conducts  to  eternal 
joys.  He  is  impelled,  therefore,  to  activity  for  their  good 
both  by  the  deepest  love  for  his  Savior  and  the  warmest 
affection  for  his  people.  So  much  absorbed  is  he  in  the 
welfare  of  his  people  that  he  is  interested  in  every  event 
in  which  they  are  interested.  In  their  concerns  of  time, 
their  plans,  and  in  their  success,  in  their  individual  inter- 
ests and  their  social  capacity,  the  faithful  pastor  has  al- 
most the  same  strength  of  feeling  which  throbs  in  their 
own  bosoms.  Are  they  prosperous  in  their  worldly  pro- 
jects, he  rejoices.  Are  they  hindered  in  these  and  disap- 


THE   EX-PASTOR.  451 

pointed,  and  consequently  in  trial  at  their  disappointments, 
he  is  likewise  tried  with  them,  and  ready,  by  counsel  and 
other  aid,  to  cheer  them  in  further  attempts  at  success. 
Does  disease  attack  any  of  his  beloved  people,  the  pastor 
is  at  their  bedsides  to  sympathize  both  with  the  invalid 
and  those  bound  to  the  sick  one  by  love,  and  fervently 
praying  to  the  great  Physician  to  send  healing  remedies, 
and  at  once  stop  the  wasting  process  and  give  strength  and 
health.  Does  the  great  foe  of  humanity,  Death,  invade  any 
circle  in  community  of  the  pastor,  what  friend  is  sooner 
in  the  house  of  mourning  than  he,  or  with  more  compassion 
in  his  heart  or  sympathy  on  his  tongue  ?  Whatever  may 
be  the  condition  of  his  people  the  pastor  is  quick  to  learn 
and  to  know,  and  as  ready  to  aid  in  making  all  their  varied 
experience  contribute  to  work  out  for  them  a  welfare  as 
large,  complete,  and  durable  as  can  be  found  around  the 
throne  of  Jehovah. 

Has  the  connection  between  pastor  and  people  subsisted 
for  years ;  has  he  received  from  them  many  and  varied 
expressions  of  their  affection,  confidence,  and  esteem  ;  has 
his  own  love  for  those  over  whom  the  Holy  One  made  him 
overseer  augmented  with  every  revolving  year  ;  has  he 
often  sung  for  joy  and  praised  his  God  and  Savior  for  giv- 
ing him  so  many  seals  of  his  ministry  and  crowns  of  his 
eternal  rejoicing  ;  and  does  he  with  pride  contemplate  his 
mature  powers  and  enlarged  experience  as  furnishing  him 
with  greater  power  to  do  his  Master's  work  and  gather 
still  a  larger  number  of  seals  and  crowns  than  what  are 
already  garnered  up  ;  and  in  his  revery  is  he  disturbed  by 
a  faint  rumor  that  Dissension  is  taking  her  seat  in  the 
breasts  of  one  or  two  of  the  prominent  individuals  of  his 
charge  ;  does  this  rumor,  though  scouted  by  the  multitude, 
as  telling  of  something  which  can  never  do  harm,  yet 
haunt  the  good  man  in  his  study,  and  in  his  walks,  and  in 
all  his  ways  to  such  an  extent  as  to  give  rise  to  the  fear 


452  A   VOICE   FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

among  the  many  confiding  ones  in  his  parish  that  the  pas- 
tor's health  is  failing  ;  do  the  dissentients  work  on,  scatter- 
ing their  baneful  seeds,  and  diligently  watch  their  germinat- 
ing process,  and  joyfully  espy  them  as  they  shoot  forth  here 
and  there  in  the  parish  ;  and  at  length  are  they  so  rank 
and  offensive  as  to  excite  strong  apprehension  in  almost 
every  mind  that  their  removal  is  alone  indispensable  to 
general  health  and  happiness  ;  and,  to  their  removal,  must 
the  pastor's  position  be  changed  ?  Must  he  be  sacrificed  ? 
Ah,  what  then  ?  Not  much.  It  is  but  a  little  thing  ;  let  him 
die.  The  event  will  cause  a  little  commotion  for  a  time  ; 
but  soon  it  will  be  forgotten,  and  the  community  in  which 
he  long  lived  and  faithfully  and  successfully  ministered, 
when  he  is  decently  buried,  will  rise  up  and  call  him 
blessed. 

Mr.  Eldridge  endured  the  trial  of  separation  from  his 
people  in  such  a  manner  as  made  the  cursory  observers  re- 
mark that  its  effects  on  his  health  and  spirits  were  far 
more  slight  than  they  had  anticipated.  All  in  the  com- 
munity were  fully  aware  of  his  sentiments  and  feelings  in  re- 
lation to  the  pastoral  office  —  that  he  deemed  &  fluctuating 
ministry  of  disastrous  consequence  both  to  the  clergy  and 
the  people.  All  knew,  too,  what  had  been  his  feelings  in 
relation  to  his  own  pastorate  ;  how  that  from  the  period 
of  his  ordination,  through  each  successive  year  of  his  pas- 
toral life,  he  had  planned  and  labored,  not  only  for  im- 
mediate success,  but  for  ulterior  benefits  to  his  people  in 
years  to  come  ;  that  his  foundations  were  so  laid  as  to 
require,  not  only  the  fervor  of  youth  and  the  energy  of 
manhood,  but  the  experience  and  wisdom  of  age,  to  rear  and 
complete  the  superstructure,  so  that  those  who  should  come 
after  him  might  comprehend  the  happy  effects  of  his  min- 
istry and  future  generations  be  partakers  of  its  benefits. 
By  reason  of  this  knowledge,  it  was  feared  that,  in  being 
arrested  in  his  progress  when  his  plans  were  but  partly 


THE  EX-PASTOR.  453 

executed  and  his  work  but  partly  completed,  he  would 
exhibit  some  clear  signs  of  sad  disappointment  and  of  deep 
despondency.  If  such  exhibition  was  not  made  to  the  cur- 
sory observer,  it  was  because  Mr.  Eldridge  could  control  his 
emotions  and  repress  the  risings  of  sadness  when  individu- 
ajs  were  about  him  whom  he  did  not  care  to  introduce  into 
the  inner  chambers  of  his  soul.  It  was  not  because  he 
was  indifferent  to  the  position  in  which  he  had  been  placed, 
in  consequence  of  being  stopped  in  his  pastoral  career  in 
the  period  of  life  when  he  was  best  fitted  by  knowledge, 
experience,  and  wisdom  to  perform  the  labor  he  had  reserved 
for  this  period  of  his  ministry,  that  every  individual  whom 
he  met  did  not  discover  despondency  and  grief  in  him. 
Of  this  there  was  abundant  evidence  from  his  intimate 
friends,  who  had  frequent  opportunity  for  learning  the  real 
effects  his  dismission  were  producing  upon  him.  These 
traced  disappointment,  and  sadness,  and  woe  in  the  many 
expressions  he  made  to  them  of  his  feelings  and  in  the 
mournful  spectacle  which  they  were  compelled  to  witness 
of  his  staggering  courage  and  withering  energies.  The 
intimate  friends  of  Mr.  ~Eildridge  felt  thai  he  was  almost  over- 
come by  the  rupture  of  his  pastoral  relation.  They  feared 
that  he  would  be  completely  unfitted  for  further  usefulness 
to  the  church  and  the  world  unless  by  a  change  of  scenes  his 
thoughts  should  be  diverted  from  the  parish  and  the  things 
therewith  connected.  Accordingly  he  was  persuaded  to 
entez  on  a  course  of  travel,  by  which  he  was  detained  from 
home  some  two  months,  and  to  his  partial  benefit. 

Though  in  his  absence  his  sensibilities  to  what  had 
lately  passed  had  become  somewhat  blunted,  yet  Mr.  El- 
dridge was  an  unhappy  man.  His  friends  made  many  at- 
tempts to  persuade  him  to  anticipate  another  settlement 
and  to  put  himself  in  a  way  to  invite  such  a  blessing  ;  but 
to  all  such  kind  interpositions  for  his  own  good  he  would 
reply  that  he  had  once  settled  for  life  — had  planned,  had 


454  A  VOICE   FEOM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

executed,  with  all  his  wisdom  and  talents,  to  be  the  most 
useful  to  the  people  of  his  charge,  and  that  his  pastoral  lifo 
had  ceased.  In  process  of  time,  however,  he  arranged  his 
course  to  his  condition,  and  was  occupied  in  literary 
labors,  in  the  care  of  his  lands  and  trees,  and  in  the  occa- 
sional supply  of  pulpits  vacant  for  a  season  through  the 
sickness,  vacation,  or  dismission  of  pastors. 

It  was  five  months  from  his  dismission  before  he  found 
himself  unoccupied  in  other  pulpits ;  and  thus  this  length 
of  time  passed  without  his  spending  a  Sabbath  at  home 
and  appearing  in  the  sacred  temple  as  a  parishioner.  This 
was  a  Sabbath  of  great  trial  to  him,  and,  from  appearances 
and  expressions,  of  great  trial  to  the  large  body  of  the 
people.  Success  had  not  attended  the  efforts  made  by 
Colonel  Presbury  arid  Deacon  Smith,  who  were  the  com- 
mittee for  supplying  the  pulpit  ;  and  the  people  were  yet 
hearing  candidates.  The  one  who  officiated  on  this  oc- 
casion, though  a  goodly  man  and  of  srood  reputation,  was 
singularly  unfortunate  in  not  securing  the  special  favor  of 
any.  Whether  his  complete  unli/ceness  to  Mr.  Eldridge, 
or  the  rise  of  impatient  or  revengeful  feelings  on  the  part 
of  those  who  never  desired  a  change  of  pastors,  produced 
a  general  outburst  of,  dissatisfaction  among  the^  people  as 
they  emerged  from  the  sanctuary  in  the  morning,  is  not 
known  ;  but  the  committee  did  not  deem  it  advisable  to 
employ  him  further.  Doubtless  the  presence  of  Mr.  El- 
dridge excited  many  to  make  comparisons  much  to  the 
prejudice  of  the  man  the  committee  had  introduced  as  a 
candidate  for  popular  favor  and  the  pastorate. 

During  the  period  that  passed  whilst  the  parish  were 
without  a  pastor  of  fifteen  months,  Mr.  Eldridge  received 
many  and  varied  expressions  of  respect  and  affection  from 
the  largest  part  of  his  late  charge.  These,  occurring  at 
intervals,  had  a  happy  effect  in  reviving  his  spirits  and 
soothing  his  feelings ;  but,  then,  the  fact  would  at  last 


THE   EX-PASTOR.  455 

ascend  and  overpower  these  expressions  that  he  was  an 
exile  from  the  people  of  his  first  love,  and  plunge  him  into 
despondency  and  grief  at  the  continued  reflection  that 
further  opportunity  to  complete  to  his  mind  his  ministry 
was  forever  cut  off.  Though  he  made  vigorous  attempts 
to  rise  over  such  emotions,  yet  he  could  not  succeed.  At 
his  ordination  he  felt  that  he  was  set  apart  as  the  minister 
of  the  church  and  parish  till  death  or  his  own  misconduct 
should  remove  him  ;  and  as  neither  of  these  had  intervened 
to  end  his  ministry,  he  thought  he  ought  still  to  have  con- 
tinued the  recipient  of  the  vows  which  were  made  to  him 
at  that  period  by  his  church  love. 

It  may  have  been  an  error  in  Mr.  Eldridge  thus  to  have 
felt.  Doubtless  some,  without  hesitation,  will  pronounce 
it  so  ;  but  if  every  pastor  for  the  last  half  century  had 
been  inspired  with  his  feelings  of  the  sanctity  of  the  pas- 
toral relation,  and  had  attached  his  value  to  its  perma- 
nency, and  had  labored  as  wisely,  as  variously,  as  abun- 
dantly as  he  did  to  be  a  minister  that  need  not  to  be 
ashamed,  he  probably  might  have  been  saved  from  such 
error,  in  never  being  called  to  the  trial  from  which  it 
sprung.  There  cannot  be  a  doubt  that,  under  such  a  min- 
istry as  his /or  fifty  years,  our  churches  and  our  parishes 
would  never  have  passed  through  the  rendiugs  and  the 
wranglings  which  have  enfeebled  so  many  and  sent  a  gen- 
eral reproach  upon  them  all ;  for  public  sentiment  would 
undoubtedly  have  be'en  encouraged  by  such  a  ministry  in 
the  conviction  that  the  permanent  ministry  is  the  most 
productive  of  good.  Had  pastors  for  the  period  above 
mentioned  been  as  deaf  to  invitations  popularly  denomi- 
nated "  loud  calls "  as  was  Mr.  Eldridge,  the  foundation 
stones  to  the  permanency  of  the  pastoral  relation  might 
not  have  been  disturbed.  Had  they  frowned  upon  the 
fickleness  of  the  people  as  he  did  upon  their  caprice,  upon 
their  every  attempt  to  disturb  those  bonds  into-  which  they 


456  A  VOICE   FROM  THE   PARSONAGE. 

most  solemnly  entered  with  their  pastors,  and  thus  made  it 
not  an  easy  matter  for  one  or  two  restless  spirits  to  operate 
upon  the  entire  mass,  and  remove,  for  a  slight  or  no  cause, 
a  faithful,  useful,  and  devoted  minister,  the  task  of  dis- 
missing a  pastor  would  not,  probably,  have  been  one  to  be 
undertaken  as  a  very  feasible  project.  But  for  the  example 
which  almost  every  parish  around  had  set  of  the  facility  in 
effecting  a  change  of  pastors,  Mr.  Eldridge  would  have 
continued  his  ministrations  to  the  people  over  whom  he 
was  ordained  till  his  Master  took  him  to  his  reward  in 
heaven.  Both  Deacon  Smith  and  Colonel  Presbury  were 
well  aware  how  successfully  men  like  themselves  had 
worked  in  other  places  who  had  conceived  a  prejudice 
towards  faithful  pastors ;  and  therefore  they  were  en- 
couraged to  gratify  their  own  wicked  feelings  in  the  imita- 
tion of  the  same  inglorious  precedent. 

A  successor  at  length  was  found  and  settled  in  the  par- 
ish of  which  Mr.  Eldridge  had  long  been  the  successful  and 
useful  minister.  To  many  it  was  a  matter  of  great  sur- 
prise that  the  people  should  have  extended  their  suffrages 
thus,  when  it  was  known  abroad  that  they  had  rejected 
many  other  candidates  of  far  more  promise  both  from  their 
talents  and  literary  acquisitions.  The  man  of  their 
choice  had  failed  in  other  smaller  parishes  to  gain  a  popu- 
lar vote  because  he  was  deemed  not  sufficiently  great  and 
talented  to  be  the  means  of  their  prosperity.  None 
doubted  his  piety  or  questioned  his  sincerity ;  but  there 
seemed  to  be  the  feeling  in  many  places  where  he  had 
preached  as  a  candidate  that  he  had  not  the  power  de- 
manded to  build  up  and  make  flourish  a  religious  com- 
munity. However,  he  received  the  votes  of  the  people 
where  Mr.  Eldridge  had  ministered,  and  was  duly  com- 
missioned as  their  pastor. 

As  was  to  be  expected,  the  affections  of  the  people 
began  to  be  intwiiied  about  the  young  minister.  It  was 


THE  EX-PASTOR.  457 

right  and  proper  that  the  shepherd  should  be  loved.  Nr 
one  was  more  ready  to  encourage  such  a  feeling  in  all 
over  whom  he  had  any  influence  than  Mr.  Eldridge.  He 
himself  was  well  disposed  towards  his  successor,  and  re- 
garded him  as  able  to  do  much  good  in  the  service  of  his 
Lord  and  Master.  Whilst,  however,  many  of  the  parish 
greatly  loved  their  present  minister,  Mr.  Eldridge  had 
very  soon  a  new  trial  in  the  case  with  which  the  former 
pastor  could  be  put  into  the  shade,  and  be  treated  with 
indignity  by  those  even  who  had  to  the  very  last  period 
of  his  connection  with  them,  and  even  up  to  the  time 
when  a  successor  was  ordained,  manifested  the  greatest 
love  and  respect.  Whilst  he  was  not  expecting  nor  de- 
siring to  have  the  affections  and  respect  of  the  pastor 
continued  to  him,  yet,  as  he  highly  prized  the  ministerial 
office  and  had  done  nothing  to  mar  his  own  character  as 
one  of  its  incumbents,  he  was  expecting  that  the  respect  due 
a  minister  of  Christ  would  be  awarded  him.  Whilst  this 
was  done  always  by  such  characters  as  Dr.  Howard,  Mr. 
Clay,  and  the  Davidsons,  yet  there  were  others,  who  had 
been  equal  to  these  in  their  expressions  of  respect  and 
affection,  who  were  inclined  now  to  treat  him  with  the 
equality  and  rudeness  that  governed  them  in  their  inter- 
course with  those  who  had  ever  been  on  the  same  level 
with  themselves.  They  seemed  to  think  and  to  act  as  if 
the  dismission  of  a  minister  had  destroyed  his  ministerial 
character  and  left  him  a  layman.  By  reason  of  this  feeling, 
manifested  by  a  portion  of  the  people  in  different  ways 
and  on  various  occasions,  Mr.  Eldridge  was  most  severely 
tried.  As  he  had  regarded  all  classes  in  the  community 
with  extreme  interest,  and  labored  abundantly  for  their 
good,  and  been  by  all  acknowledged  instrumental  of  great 
benefits  to  them  as  their  minister,  he  was  expecting  that 
gratitude  for  past  services  would  prompt  to  kind  and 
39 


458  A  VOICE  FEOM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

respectful  treatment  when  in  the  providence  of  God  it  wag 
no  longer  in  his  power  to  minister  to  them  ;  but  in  such 
expectation  he  was  disappointed,  and  often  had  to  mourn 
over  the  ease  with  which  he  could  be  forgotten,  or  be 
treated  with  indignity  and  coldness.  For  this  reason  he 
could  not  in  his  private  capacity  do  many  things  which 
he  would  for  the  interest  and  edification  of  the  commu- 
nity. He  did  not  wish  to  expose  himself  to  the  incon- 
siderate animadversions  of  any,  or  to  take  upon  himself 
trusts  which  a  few  might  wish  to  have  fall  upon  another. 
Therefore  he  preferred  to  keep  himself  aloof  from  a  pro- 
miscuous assembly,  and,  when  not  abroad  on  professional 
duty,  to  confine  himself  within  his  own  enclosures.  Though 
requested  often  by  some  to  be  present  in  meetings  for  con- 
ference and  prayer,  he  was  obliged  to  deny  himself  the 
pleasure  and  the  profit  of  such  means  of  spiritual  improve- 
ment in  consequence  of  having  heard  or  seen  how  ruth- 
lessly some  who  were  always  at  these  meetings  handled  his 
character  and  interpreted  his  motives.  He  lamented  such  a 
state  of  feeling  towards  him,  because  it  deprived  him  of 
power  to  be  useful  in  a  private  capacity  where  he  had  long 
publicly  labored. 

Another  trial  of  the  ex-pastor  had  its  source  in  the 
smallness  of  value  which  was  often  placed  on  his  official 
services  abroad.  It  was  known  that  Mr.  Eldridge  was 
dismissed.  Parish  committees  who  had  in  charge  the  sup- 
ply of  pulpits  vacated  by  pastors  who  were  enjoying 
abroad  their  three  and  four  weeks  of  vacation  were  aware 
that  Mr.  Eldridge  was  dismissed.  He  was  often  applied 
to  in  thesQ  circumstances  to  supply  the  vacancy.  But  in 
what  manner  was  the  application  made?  Often  alter  the 
manner  of  the  one  we  will  now  detail. 

Mr.  Eldridge  had  been  at  home  on  a  Monday  morning 
but  a  few  minutes,  having  spent  the  previous  Sabbath  in  a 


THE   EX-PASTOR.  459 

neighboring  town,  where  for  a  few  weeks  past  he  had 
been  preaching,  when  he  was  visited  by  a  gentleman  who 
introduced  himself  as  Mr.  Crosby. 

*.***»• 

"  I  suppose  our  minister  has  left  home  to-day,"  Mr.  Cros- 
by remarked,  "  to  be  absent  four  weeks.  "When  he  was 
settled  it  was  agreed  by  the  parish  that  he  might  have 
four  Sabbaths  in  each  year  to  himself,  and  that  they  would 
supply  the  pulpit.  Many  of  our  people  have  expressed  a 
desire  to  hear  you  preach,  Mr.  Eldridge  ;  and  I  have  called 
to  see  if  you  could  supply  our  pulpit  the  next  Sabbath." 

"  I  have  no  engagement,"  Mr.  Eldridge  replied,  "  for  the 
next  Sabbath  ;  and  I  think  I  can  accommodate  you." 

"  I  suppose,"  Mr.  Crosby  observed,  "  that  I  ought  to  say 
that  our  people  don't  feel  as  if  they  ought  to  pay  two  min- 
isters. They  raise  for  our  pastor  eight  hundred  dollars  a 
year  ;  and  many  feel  that  they  are  already  taxed  too  much 
for  his  support.  We  don't  expect  to  obtain  a  minister  to 
supply  Mr.  Freeman's  place  without  giving  a  little  some- 
thing;  but  we  can't  afford  to  pay  the  full  price.  Could 
you  go  under  such  circumstances  ?  " 

"How  much  do  you  propose  to  give  ?"  Mr.  Eldridge  in- 
quired. 

"  Some  of  us  have  thought,"  Mr.  Crosby  said,  "  we  might 
raise  four  or  Jive  dollars  a  Sabbath." 

"  That  would  about  meet  the  expenses  of  a  journey  to 
your  place,"  Mr.  Eldridge  observed. 

"  I  suppose,"  Mr.  Crosby  said,  "  it  would  cost  four  or 
five  dollars  to  go  there  and  back." 

"  Well,"  said-  Mr.  Eldridg?,  "  I  suppose  your ,  people  are 
able  to  raise  much  more  than  they  now  do  for  preaching 
if  they  were  disposed.  I  have  often  passed  through  your 
town,  and  have  noticed  that  you  have  a  large  population 
and  a  very  fine  meeting  house.  Your  farms  indicate  both 
wealth  and  prosperity." 


460         A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

"  0,  yes,  there  is  considerable  wealth  in  our  place,  I 
know,"  Mr.  Crosby  remarked  ;  "  and,  as  you  intimate,  the 
people  are  sufficiently  able  to  raise  more  money  for  preach- 
ing than  they  now  do  ;  but,  then,  they  would  not  do  it." 

"  Do  you  think  it  would  be  just  in  your  people  to  employ 
a  clergyman  to  supply  their  pastor's  place  while  he  is  ab- 
sent and  not  remunerate  him  for  his  labor  when  they  have 
so  much  ability  ?  " 

"  Why,  no,"  Mr.  Crosby  replied.  "  We  expect  to  pay, 
as  I  said,  a  little  something" 

11  But  four 'or  five  dollars,  the  sum  you  named,  would  only 
about  pay  nay  expenses  should  I  preach  for  you  next  Sab- 
bath. There  would  be  little  or  nothing  left  for  my  services" 
Mr.  Eldridge  said. 

"  You  would  have  an  opportunity  to  preach"  Mr.  Crosby 
remarked.  "  It  would  not  be  necessary  for  you  to  make 
any  preparation,  as  you  probably  have  a  great  many  old 
sermons.  Ministers  who  are  dismissed,  I  have  always 
thought,  love  to  preach  whenever  they  canine?  a  place." 

This  latter  remark  very  sensibly  affected  Mr.  Eldridge  ; 
but,  suppressing  his  feelings,  he  observed,  — 

w  I  always  am  ready  to  preach  the  gospel  whenever  there 
is  a  call  of  Providence  for  me  so  to  do.  I  can  have  op- 
portunity to  preach  nearer  home  than  your  place  to  a  peo- 
ple who  are  really  unable  to  afford  much  compensation  ;  and, 
when  I  have  services  to  give  away,  I  prefer  going  there. 
I  should  expect  to  be  far  more  successful  in  such  a  place  in 
doing  good  than  in  a  community  where  there  is  abundant 
ability,  but  no  disposition  to  compensate  a  minister." 

"  I  have  supposed  that  it  was  comn^on  for'parishes  situat- 
ed as  we  are,  when  their  pastors  were  away  in  their  vaca- 
tion, to  get  their  preaching  for  little  or  nothing  from 
dismissed  ministers"  Mr.  Crosby  said. 

"  That  may  be,  said  Mr.  Crosby.  I  fear  it  is  too  true  ; 
but,  then,  it  is  nevertheless  v°.ry  unjust.  Dismissed  minis- 


THE   EX-PASTOR.  40 1 

ters  usually  need  all  the  compensation  they  can  obtain  for 
their  services  whenever  they  preach  ;  for  it  is  from  their 
labors  that  their  families  are  to  be  supported.  I  have 
always  thought  that  they  should  be  fully  compensated 
whenever  they  were  called  upon  to  preach.  It  has  ever 
been  my  practice  to  pay  a  brother  minister  who  supplied 
my  place  in  my  absence  the  full  price.  A  dismissed  minister 
can  no  better  afford  to  give  away  his  services  than  a  pas- 
101.  The  people  in  Bedford  parish  set  a  very  good  exam- 
ple to  other  communities  in  the  matter  of  paying  clergymen 
who  supply  the  place  of  the  pastor  in  his  vacation." 

"  What  is  that?  "  Mr.  Crosby  inquired. 

"  I  lately  saw  a  minister,  who  had  been  supplying  that 
people  whilst  the  pastor  was  relaxing  himself  abroad  in 
his  vacation,  who  informed  me  that  they  gave  their  minis- 
ter seven  hundred  dollars  a  year  and  the  privilege  of  being 
absent  four  Sabbaths.  They  considered  these  four  Sab- 
baths in  which  he  was  absent  as  important  as  any  other  four 
Sabbaths ;  and  they  usually  paid  the  individuals  who  sup- 
plied the  vacancy  each  Sabbath  in  proportion  to  the  salary 
of  the  pastor.  '  We  do-  so/  the  good  deacon  of  the  church 
remarked,  '  because  it  is,  in  the  first  place,  right ;  and,  in  the 
next  place,  from  respect  to  our  pastor.  If  we  should  beg  our 
preaching  or  but  half  pay  for  it,'  he  said,  '  for  four  Sabbaths 
every  year  when  our  pastor  is  absent,  he  would  think  we 
did  not  value  his  vacation  much.  Now,  he  knows  that  his 
salary  is  in  reality  equal  to  seven  hundred  and  fifty  dollars 
a  year ;  for  it  costs  us  about  fifty  dollars  to  pay  for  his 
four  Sabbaths  in  which  he  is  away.'  " 

"-Well,  Mr.  Eldridge,"  Mr.  Crosby  remarked,  "if  you 
will  come  and  preach  for  us  next  Sabbath  you  shall  have 
ten  or  twelve  dollars,  if  I  have  to  pay  it  all  myself." 
****** 

In  the  course  of  a  few  days  after  the  above  conversation 
Mr.  Eldridge  received  a  visit  from  a  friend  from  abroad 
39* 


462  A  .VOICE   FROM   THE   PARSONAGE. 

with  whom  he  had  been  in  most  friendly  correspondence 
for  years.  Though  a  layman,  yet  he  was  interested  in  the 
condition  of  the  clergy,  and  on  various  occasions  had 
evinced  this  interest  much  to  the  relief  and  encouragement 
of  this  most  important  class  of  the  community.  Whilst  he 
was  the  guest  of  Mr.  Eldridge  a  variety  of  subjects  were 
introduced,  as  well  those  of  a  general  nature  as  of  per- 
sonal interest.  From  some  inquiries  made  of  her  husband 
by  Mrs.  Eldridge  relative  to  the  interview  he  had  lately 
had  with  Mr.  Crosby  above  alluded  to,  and  the  facetious 
replies  of  Mr.  Eldridge,  the  curiosity  of  Mr.  Lawrence 
was  awakened,  to  satisfy  which  it  became  necessary  that 
the  character  of  the  conversation  be  described.  This 
being  done,  Mr.  Lawrence  remarked,  with  deep  emo- 
tion, — 

"  My  feelings  have  often  been  severely  tried  at  the  man- 
ner in  which  the  services  of  dismissed  ministers  are  often 
treated.  Many  people  seem  to  suppose  that  they  can  ob- 
tain them,  when  they  are  not  particularly  engaged,  to 
preach  a  Sabbath  for  little  or  no  compensation,  and  that 
then  they  are  rather  conferring  than  receiving  a  favor  in  asking 
them  to  preach." 

"  I  have  felt  very  differently  since  I  was  dismissed,"  Mr. 
Eldridge  said,  "in  relation  to  this  subject  from  what  I  ever 
did  before,  probably  for  the  reason  that  I  have  known 
more  about  it  than  formerly." 

"I  have  a  neighbor  at  home  who  is  a  clergyman,"  Mr. 
Lawrence  remarked,  "  who  was  dismissed  on  account  of 
ill  health  a  year  or  two  since,  and  from  him  I  have  learned 
much  of  the  manner  in  which  people  are  disposed  some- 
times to  treat  the  poor  minister.  I  never  heard  him  com- 
plain with  any  degree  of  censure,  but  rather  he  always 
alluded  to  the  subject  with  sorrow ;  for  he  is  a  most  ex- 
cellent man,  and  one  to  whom  our  people  have  become 
much  attached.  He  has  told  me  that  he  has  often  been 


THE   EX-PASTOR.  463 

called  upon  to  supply  the  pulpits  of  parishes  where  there 
was  a  vacancy  for  one  or  two  Sabbaths,  occasioned  by 
the  absence  of  the  pastors,  when  he  was  requited  with 
nothing  more  than  the  sum  necessary  to  cover  his  expenses,  as 
the  same  were  ascertained  by  the  parish  committee,  whose 
duty  it  was  in  behalf  of  the  parish  to  give  full  compensa- 
tion ;  for  the  pastor  had  the  right  of  absence.  On  one 
occasion  he  said  he  was  asked  how  much  he  would  have  to 
pay  for  his  horse  and  carriage ;  and  the  sum  being  one 
dollar  and  seventy-five  cents,  the  committee  man  asked  him, 
on  handing  him  a  two-dollar  bank  bill,  if  he  could  give 
him  back  the  remaining  quarter,  as  it  was  impossible  for 
him  to  make  change." 

"  Why  did  he  not  demand  full  compensation,"  Mr.  El- 
flridge  inquired, "  if  the  service  was  rendered  in  accordance 
with  the  request  of  the  committee,  and  if  it  belonged  to 
the  parish,  and  not  to  the  pastor,  to  make  compensa- 
tion ?  " 

"  He  is  a  very  modest  man,"  Mr.  Crosby  replied,  "  and 
trustful,  and  is  disposed  to  receive  what  is  bestowed  rather 
than  to  make  a  demand  for  what  is  justly  his  due." 

"I  cannot  think  that  there  are  many  parishes  who 
would  be  guilty  of  such  niean  injustice,"  Mr.  Eldridge 
remarked. 

"  There  are  some,  however,  who  practise  in  this  way,  I  air 
persuaded,"  Mr.  Crosby  said  ;  "  and  you  ministers,  too"  h? 
continued  with  a  smile,  "  sometimes  do  the  thing  in  rela- 
tion to  a  dismissed  brother  which  is  not  altogether  right." 

"  What  do  you  refer  to  ?  "  inquired  Mr.  Eldridge. 

"  I  have  heard,"  Mr.  Lawrence  replied,  "upon  authority 
which  I  consider  unquestionable,  that  sometimes  pastors  have 
found  it  for  their  interest  to  be  absent  from  their  people  on 
a  Sabbath,  and  that,  to  supply  their  pulpit,  they  have  sought 
a  dismissed  minister  who  had  no  other  source  of  supporting 
a  family  but  preaching,  and  have  not  been  very  liberal  in 
their  compensation." 


464  A    VOICE   FROM   THE    PARSONAGE. 

"  So  far  as  my  knowledge  extends,"  Mr.  Eldridge  re- 
marked, "  I  have  found  in  pastors  who  were  settled  strong 
sympathy  towards  their  brethren  who  were  without  pas- 
toral charge  and  a  readiness  to  aid  them  in  every  way  in 
their  power.  I  have  known  of  many  instances  where  pas- 
tors have  sought  the  aid  of  such  brethren  when  they  have 
been  sick  or  absent  from  their  people,  and  have  paid  them 
the  full  price  for  their  services.  Nevertheless,  it  may  be 
that  what  you  intimate  is  correct.  I  have  never  happened 
to  know  of  any  instances  of  illiberality  in  pastors  towards 
those  whom  they  employed  to  supply  their  place  in  the 
pulpit." 

"  Perhaps  I  have  been  in  a  better  situation  for  hearing 
about  these  matters  than  yourself,"  Mr.  Lawrence  said. 
"At  any  rate,  I  have  learned  some  pretty  hard  stories  oa 
this  subject." 

"What  are  some  of  them?  "  Mr.  Eldridge  asked. 

"To  be  fair,"  Mr.  Lawrence  replied,  "  I  must  state  that 
I  have  known  of  great  liberality  on  the  part  of  some  pas- 
tors to  the  brethren  who  have  preached  for  them  in  their 
absence.  I  hope  contrary  instances  are  rare,  but  I  am 
afraid  that  they  might  be  more  uncommon.  Not  long  ago 
there  was  a  pastor  who  thought  he  might  be  more  eligibly 
settled  and  who  took  some  considerable  pains  to  effect  a 
change  of  condition.  He  wauld  seek  an  invitation  to 
preach  a  Sabbath  in  some  large  and  popular  parish  where 
they  were  in  want  of  a  pastor,  and  would  supply  his  own 
pulpit  with  the  services  of  a  brother  in  the  neighborhood 
who  had  been  dismissed,  giving  him  six  dollars  per  Sabbath, 
and  receiving  from  the  destitute  p&i-'ish  Jifteen.  Now,  what 
do  you  make  of  such  conduct  ?  '} 

"  If  that  is  true,"  Mr.  Eldridge  said,  "  I  most  sincerely 
regret  it." 

"  There  is  no  doubt  of  its  correctness  ;  for  I  happened 
to  hear  of  the  case  through  the  brother  who  supplied  this 


THE    EX-PASTOR.  465 

pastor,  and  he  knew  how  much  this  destitute  parish  paid 
the  individual  whom  he  supplied  ;  for  he  was  soon  after  called 
there  to  preach  himself,  and  was  informed  by  the  parish  com- 
mittee. I  have  heard  of  several  similar  cases." 

"  It  may  be,"  Mr.  Eldridge  said,  "  that  I  shall  yet  know 
more  on  this  subject.  Since  I  have  been  dismissed  I  have 
learnea  some  things  which  I  did  not  before  know,  a:id  it 
may  be  that  I  shall  have  some  experience  myself.  I  may 
be  called  to  supply  the  place  of  some  brother  who  will 
give  me  a  third  of  what  he  receives." 

"  I  have  an  instance  in  mind,"  Mr.  Lawrence  said, 
"  which  greatly  puts  in  the  shad?  this  last  case  I  men- 
tioned. In  our  state,  a  clergyman  who  was  settled  over  a 
large  congregation  was  sent  by  the  people  a  representa- 
tive to  the  legislature.  He  received  for  his  services  there 
fourteen  dollars  a  week.  Sometimes  he  would  preach  at 
home  and  sometimes  he  would  exchange.  Sometimes  he 
would  be  called  upon  to  preach  in  some  of  the  towns 
near  where  the  legislature  met  when  they  were  destitute 
of  a  pastor,  and  receive  ten  or  twelve  dollars ;  and  then 
he  would  send  to  his  own  people  a  brother  to  whom  he 
would  give  Jive  dollars.  I  have  heard  a  poor  minister, 
with  a  large  family  dependent  upon  him,  tell  me  that 
he  had  five  dollars  for  supplying  the  pulpit  of  this  indi- 
vidual, when  he,  the  very  week,  was  receiving  for  his  ser- 
vices in  the  kgislature  and  for  supporting  a  destitute  pulpit 
twenty-six  dollars,  which,  added  to  his  regular  salary  at  home, 
would  amount  to  about  thirty-eight  dollars.  Now,  what  do 
you  think  of  this  ?  " 

#*#### 

Mr.  Eldridge  found  another  embarrassing  trial  as  an 
ex-pastor  in  his  relation  to  his  successor.  He  was  aware 
of  the  adage,  almost  as  ancient  as  the  practice  of  chan- 
ging pastors,  that  "Dismissed  ministers  make  poor  parish- 
ioners ;  "  but  he  always  regarded  it  as  a  slanderous  \\\\\<\\- 


466         A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

tation,  without  good  foundation.  He  saw  no  reason  why 
an  individual  who  had  filled  the  pastoral  office  should  in 
private  life  be  in  the  least  detrimental  to  the  reputation, 
comfort,  success,  or  usefulness  of  the  regular  pastor.  On 
the  contrary,  many  considerations  were  suggested  to  his 
tnind  whereby  he  was  induced  to  believe  the  ex-pastor 
-might  be  of  great  advantage  in  every  way  to  his  successor 
or  to  the  minister  of  the  place  in  which  he  resided.  An 
ox-pastor  knows  the  trials  of  the  ministry,  and  is  largely 
in  experience  of  the  many  ways  of  disposing  of  difficult 
and  embarrassing  circumstances  which  are  continually  oc- 
curring in  the  history  of  the  pastor  to  give  him  heavy 
trial  and  great  perplexity.  By  reason  of  this  knowledge 
he  is  qualified  to  impart  important  aid  in  seasons  of  diffi- 
culty, and  his  own  sympathetic  disposition  would  prompt 
him  to  render  such  aid  in  the  hour  when  it  might  be 
needed.  Mr.  Eld  ridge  early  determined  that  he  would 
thus  assist  his  successor  and  be  unto  him  a  true  friend  and 
counsellor.  There  was  nothing  in  his  soul  to  persuade 
him  to  a  contrary  course  ;  for  he  was  interested  in  the  peo- 
pk  of  his  fate  care,  and  was  favorably  inclined  towards  their 
present  minister.  He  neither  allowed  any  censure  to  es- 
cape his  own  lips  upon  any  conduct  of  his  successor,  nor 
would  he  hear  such  censure,  without  rebuke,  from  others. 
In  a  variety  of  ways  he  endeavored  to  smooth  the  path  of 
his  successor  and  to  make  all  things  move  on  easily  and 
for  good.  Yet  he  soon  perceived  that  his  efforts  were  not  ap- 
preciated, and  at  length  had  unmistakable  evidence/  that 
there  was  no  disposition  on  the  part  of  the  individual  whoso 
true  usefulness  and  happiness  he  was  consulting  to  recipro- 
cate friendly  attentions.  Rumor  brought  to  him  the  irtel- 
ligence  that  he  was  regarded  by  his  successor  with  jealousy, 
and  contemplated  more  like  an  enemy  than  &  friend;  and 
this  was  strengthened  by  the  demeanor  of  the  successor. 
The  little  courtesies  in  the  power  of  one  minister  to  show 


THE  EX-PASTOR.  467 

another  were  intermitted,  and  there  were  formality  and 
coldness  in.  the  manner  of  the  successor  whenever  he  met 
the  man  who  had  preceded  him  in  the  pastoral  office. 
Mr.  Eldridge  was  at  length  treated  by  him  more  like  an 
offended  parishioner  than  a  true  friend  and  brother  minis- 
ter. It  was  a  long  period  before  he  could  understand  the 
reason  of  this  treatment  ;  but  the  mystery  was  at  length 
removed  in  a  conversation  Mr.  Eldridge  had  with  a  neigh- 
boring minister,  Mr.  Waldo,  who  called  upon  him  in  the 
expression  of  kindness  and  friendship  which  for  years  had 
oeen  unabated. 

"  I  have  been  lecturing  your  successor  a  little  this  after- 
noon," Mr.  Waldo  observed. 

"  Ah,"  replied  Mr.  Eldridge ;  "  pray  tell  me  what  he 
has  been  doing  to  provoke  your  fatherly  rebukes." 

"  /  was  not  at  all  pleased  with  the  manner  in  which  he  talked 
about  you,"  Mr.  Waldo  said.  "  From  his  conversation  I 
judged  that  he  looked  upon  you  rather  as  an  enemy  than 
a  friend." 

"  He  is  very  much  deceived  if  he  considers  me  an  ene- 
my" Mr.  Eldridge  said. 

"  Yes,  I  told  him  so,"  Mr.  Waldo  remarked.  "  I  told 
him  he  had  no  more  sincere  friend  or  well  wisher  in  tho 
parish  than  Mr.  Eldridge.  I  asked  him  for  the  least  evi- 
dence to  sustain  his  position  ;  but  he  could  not  present 
any  ;  he  said  he  had  nothing  tangible.  I  asked  him  if  he 
had  treated  you  as  a  friend,  as  one  in  whom  he  had  confi- 
dence. He  replied  that  he  had  endeavored  to  treat  you 
with  respect,  but  that  he  had  never  considered  you  among 
his  particular  friends.  He  remarked  that  he  had  always 
heard  that  dismissed  ministers  made  poor  parishioners; 
and  he  determined  from  the  first  to  be  on  the  lookout  for  Mr. 
Eldridge,  and  not  suffer  him  to  get  the  advantage  of  him. 
The  last  expression  unravelled  to  my  mind  the  whole  mat- 
ter, and  excited  my  indignation  and  sorrow.  I  told  him 


468  A   VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

that  /  knew  you  well,  and  that  I  knew  that  you  would  do 
him  all  the  good  it  were  in  your  poVer  to  render  him. 
His  attitude,  '  being  on  the  lookout?  had  made  the  entire  diffi- 
culty. '  Now,'  said  I,  '  I  will  tell  you  how  I  treat  dis- 
missed ministers.  I  have  two  in  myjparish,  and  they  are 
among  my  best  friends.  I  call  upon  them  often.  I  un- 
bosom myself  to  them.  I  sympathize  with  them  and  en- 
deavor to  aid  them.  I  treat  them  as  ministers.  I  ask 
them  to  preach  occasionally,  and  among  my  people  I  al- 
ways speak  well  of  tJiem  and  encourage  the  people  to  treat  them 
with  kindness  and  respect.  I  have  never  had  any  difficulty 
from  their  being  in  the  parish,  and  I  never  expect  any 
unless  I  make  it.'  I  told  him  that  I  believed  three  fourths 
of  the  trouble  from  dismissed  ministers  arose  from  the 
pastors  themselves,  from  their  suspicions  from  their  being 
on  the  lookout  for  them.  Would  pastors  treat  their  breth- 
ren who  happen  to  move  into  their  parishes  with  kindness, 
and  as  ministers,  I  do  not  believe  there  would  be  much 
trouble  from  them  as  parishioners." 

"  You  have  expressed  my  sentiments,"  Mr.  Eldridge 
remarked.  "I  am  of  the  opinion  that,  were  pastors  to  act 
the  part  of  friends  at  all  times  to  their  brethren  who  hap- 
pen to  be  their  parishioners,  and  treat  them  as  ministers 
and  brethren,  they  would  find  it  both  for  their  usefulness 
and  happiness." 

"  I  advised  our  good  brother  to  alter  in  his  feelings  and 
course  towards  you,"  Mr.  Waldo  said,  "  and  assured  him 
that  he  would  most  certainly  find  his  reward." 

"  I  should  be  very  happy  to  have  him  more  cordial," 
Mr.  Eldridge  said  ;  "  and  I  really  think,  if  he  became  well 
acquainted  with  me,  that  he  ivould  discover  that  lie  had  made 
a  mistake" 

*  *  *  *  *  * 

Two  years  passed  away  in  the  life  of  Mr.  Eldridge  'as 
an  ex. -pastor.  Whilst  he  was  always  well  employed,  either 


THE  EX-PASTOR.  469 

in  the  preparation  of  articles  of  sterling  value  for  our  lit- 
erary and  theological  reviews  or  in  preaching  the  gospel 
to  some  destitute  people,  yet  he  continued  to  sigh  and  to 
lament  over  the  interruption  of  his  pastoral  duties  and  the 
disarrangement  of  the  plans  he  had  formed  at  the  beginning 
of  his  profession  —  a  career  for  making  his  ministerial  life 
as  complete  and  useful  as  possible.  Efforts  were  frequently 
made,  both  by  his  ministerial  and  other  friends,  to  have 
him  look  out  for  another  pastorate  ;  but  to  them  all 
he  turned  a  deaf  ear.  He  had  been  once  settled,  and  that 
for  life,  and  his  sensibilities  would  not  suffer  him  to  settle 
again  ;  for  he  was  satisfied  that  he  could  not  be  useful,  af- 
ter his  own  ideal  of  usefulness,  to  another  people.  How- 
ever, so  many  were  the  embarrassments  attending  his  life  as 
an  ex-pastor  that  he  finally  consented  to  entertain  the  plan 
of  a  connection  with  a  literary  institution  which  some  of 
his  friends  were  maturing.  In  process  of  time  he  was 
elected  a  professor  in  one  of  our  western  colleges  ;  and,  af- 
ter much  anxious  suspense,  he  accepted  the  appointment. 

Now  a  new  trial  came.  Through  legacies  of  relations 
he  had  been  enabled  to  purchase  a  well-built  and  beauti- 
ful house,  to  which  were  attached  about  twenty  acres  of 
land  in  the  highest  degree  productive.  He  made  this 
purchase  when  all  things  in  his  parish  favored  the  conclusion 
that  he  would  not  need  any  other  house  or  home  than  this.  He 
had  expended  much  treasure  in  the  improvement  of  his 
lands.  Trees  of  various  kinds  were  on  its  hills  and  in  its 
valleys,  and  on  its  plains  were  seen  the  tall  and  waving 
grass  in  its  season,  being  evidence  that  a  skilful,  and  prac- 
tical, and  industrious  hand  had  correctly  prepared  the  soil 
for  such  a  goodly  return  of  crops.  The  garden,  too,  and 
the  large  enclosure  around  the  house,  had  signally  changed 
aspects  since  they  had  been  in  the  occupancy  of  Mr.  El- 
dridge,  exhibiting  the  most  pleasing  beauty  as  well  as  af- 
fording many  substantial  comforts.  Amidst  the  shrubbery 
40 


470  A   VOICE   PROM  THE  PARSONAGE. 

and  under  the  trees  .which  his  own  hands  had  planted 
his  sons  and  daughters  had  gambolled  and  played ;  and, 
whilst  he  had  seen  them  thus  employed,  he  had  often 
thought  that,  whilst  he  lived,  they  would  never  'know  another 
father's  house.  But  now  house  and  lands  were  to  be  sold, 
to  prepare  the  way  for  a  removal  to  a  distant  home.  Af- 
ter refusing  one  and  another  offer  as  being  far  too  small, 
Mr.  Eldridge  at  last  succeeded  in  disposing  of  his  estate, 
but  at  a  sacrifice  of  over  a  thousand  dollars.  Soon  after  he 
and  his  famil}'  were  settled  at  the  west  he  at  once  entered 
on  his  new  duties  as  professor.  Here,  however,  he  was 
not  happy,  nor  were  his  family  contented.  He  was  not 
busy,  after  his  strong  desire,  in  searching  the  Scriptures 
and  bringing  forth  the  beaten  oil  for  the  sanctuary,  for  the 
edification  and  salvation  of  the  people  of  his  charge.  At 
the  circumstances  which  interrupted  this  his  chosen  labor 
he  would  often  halt  and  over  them  would  he  in  sadness 
muse.  He  could  not  recover  himself  from  this  most  melan- 
choly retrospection  ;  and  at  last  he  fell  a  victim  to  disease, 
superinduced,  in  the  opinion  of  medical  advisers,  by  grief 
and  despondency.  He  thus  fell  after  a  residence  of  a  little 
more  than  a  year  in  his  new  home,  to  the  grief  of  many 
friends  who  had  learned  his  worth  in  the  short  period  of 
their  acquaintance  with  the  man. 

But  for  his  dismission  from  a  people  among  whom  he  had 
been  signally  useful,  through  the  crafty  perseverance  of  one 
or  two  individuals  in  operating  to  his  hurt  till  t/ie  many  be- 
lieved expediency  demanded  his  removal,  Mr.  Eldridge,  to  all 
probability,  would  have  continued  till  old  age  or  death 
gathering  stars  for  the  crown  of  his  rejoicing  forever 
amidst  the  people  of  las  first  and  only  love. 


A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE,  or  Life  in  the  Ministry,  with 
an  Introductory  Chapter  by  PROF.  PARK,  D.  D.,  of  the 
Theological  Seminary  at  Andover.  Boston  :  published  by 
S.  K.  Whipple  &  Co.,  100  Washington  St.  A  volume  of 
500  pages.  Price,  $1.  Second  Edition. 

The  object  of  this  work  is  to  benefit  the  Pastors  of  our  churches, 
and  to  help  those  in  every  religious  community,  who  are  anxious  for 
peace  and  prosperity  in  their  own  locality,  to  accomplish  this  desirable 
object.  Its  wide  circulation  in  every  Parish  cannot  fail  to  accom- 
plish great  good.  The  matter  of  the  work  is  so  various,  that  almost, 
every  cause  of  disquietude  to  the  minister  is  met  by  it.  There  is  no 
work  so  particular  in  its  notice  of  every  source  of  trouble  in  a  parish, 
and  of  anxiety  to  the  pastor,  as  this.  A  pastor,  therefore,  in  taking 
special  pains  to  have  the  volume  extensively  circulated  in  his  parish 
ivould  be  laboring  to  make  the  most  of  his  ministry.  The  first  edition 
excited  the  interest  and  obtained  the  hearty  approval  of  individuals 
high  in  the  confidence  and  respect  of  the  community,  and  received 
from  the  secular  and  religious  press  the  most  flattering  notices. 

To  awaken  in  you  an  interest  in  the  volume,  and  induce  you  to  aid 
in  its  circulation  in  your  community,  a  few  extracts  from  the  opinions 
which  have  been  expressed,  are  here  given. 


From  Rev.  Dr.  Ide,  West  Medway. 

I  have  read  the  work  entitled  "  A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE,  or  Life 
in  the  Ministry,"  with  much  interest  and  satisfaction.  It  is  a  very  read- 
able and  instructive  volume ;  one  which  few  that  commence  the  perusal 
of  its  pages,  will  lay  aside  until  they  have  read  it  through.  It  is,  in  my 
view,  suited  to  exert  a  good  influence,  both  on  ministers  and  people.  It 
brings  vividly  before  the  mind  a  great  many  facts  which  ought  to  be 
more  frequently  and  seriously  considered  than  they  are,  and  presents 
them,  too,  in  a  light  that  will  attract  attention  and  make  an  impression. 
Ministers  would  do  well  to  encourage  its  circulation,  as  a  means  of  prevent- 
ing or  counteracting  many  of  the  causes  which  often  exert  a  most  perni- 
cious influence  in  the  field  of  their  labors.  Every  one  who  wishes  success 
to  the  ministry,  and  harmony,  peace  and  prosperity  in  the  churches, 
might  do  something  to  accomplish  this  object,  by  directing  attention  to 
this  work. 


From  Rev.  Edward  Beecher,  D.  D.,  of  Boston. 

In  my  opinion,  the  work  entitled  "A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE,' 
is  adapted  to  do  great  good,  and  deserves  a  general  circulation  among  the 
churches.  It  is  true  to  nature  and  to  facts,  and  will  convey  not  only 
pleasure,  but  important  instruction,  to  all  who  read  it.  All  Congrega- 
tional churches  need  great  wisdom  and  piety  in  order  to  avoid  the  evils 
and  temptations  incident  to  their  system,  and  to  develop  its  true  excel- 
lencies unobscured.  This  work  is  adapted  to  aid  them  in  obtaining 
these  indispensable  qualifications.  I  therefore  cordially  recommend  it  to 
general  acceptance  and  favor. 


From  Rev.  Edmund  Dowse,  Pastor  of  the  Church  in  Sherborn. 

Having  examined  the  book  entitled  "  A  VOICE  FROM  THE  PARSONAGE," 
I  am  prepared  to  say,  that  though  the  last  of  the  works  issued  from  the 
press  on  the  same  general  subject,  it  is  by  no  means  the  least.  It  not 
only  occupies  new  ground,  but  it  meets  evils  that  have  not  been  noticed, 
and  avoids  objections  that  have  been  found  in  previous  publications.  On 
the  whole,  I  regard  it  the  best  book  of  the  kind,  both  for  the  ministry  and 
the  people. 


From  the  Boston  Evening  Transcript. 

This  volume  is  dedicated  to  Sidney  B.  Morse,  Esq.,  by  his  former 
pastor  and  friend.  The  author  designs  to  aid  in  counteracting  the  great 
evil  of  changing  the  pastoral  relation  for  any  slight  cause.  He  says  the 
plan  and  general  features  of  the  book  were  conceived  and  drawn  out 
many  months  ago,  and  before  any  other  work  with  the  slightest  resem- 
blance to  it  was  known.  The  volume  contains  sketches  of  various  inci- 
dents peculiar  to  the  career  of  a  clergyman,  who  sustains  the  relation  of 
pastor  to  a  parish.  It  gives  quite  an  insight  into  social  life  at  a  parson- 
age, and  the  voice  it  utters  is  worthy  the  attention  of  all  well  wishers 
of  those  who  pass  their  lives  in  the  ministry. 


From  the  Boston  Daily  Advertiser. 

The  book  details  the  course  of  a  minister  of  the  noblest  character, 
walking  through  his  path  of  Christian  duty  in  the  most  exemplary  man- 
ner, and  aided  by  a  faithful  wife  to  do  all  that  a  Christian  family  can  be 
expected  to  do  in  the  position  of  the  pastor  of  a  church.  The  picture  is 
filled  out  with  other  excellent  characters,  the  Squire  and  his  wife,  and 
others  who  aid  the  minister  along  his  path,  and  do  what  they  can  to  ren- 
der it  pleasant.  But  as  there  was  a  serpent  in  the  garden  of  Eden,  so  in 
this  parish  were  there  wicked  and  slanderous  persons  who  undermine  the 
pastor  in  the  affections  of  many  of  his  people,  and  do  not  end  till  he  is 
compelled  to  leave  the  parish  where  he  has  passed  the  best  years  of  his 
life.  The  details  of  his  connection  with  his  parish,  his  successes  and  his 
failures  are  drawn  with  minuteness,  and  frequently  with  considerable 


power  and  pathos.  The  picture  is  a  painful  one,  and  we  would  fain 
hope  has  been  somewhat  heightened,  as  is  allowable  "  to  point  a  moral, 
and  adorn  a  tale."  But  the  lessons  should  be  carefully  pondered,  and 
may  serve  to  check  a  reckless  spirit  of  gossip,  which  is  often  thought- 
lessly indulged  in,  without  any  idea  of  the  evil  consequences  which  may 
follow  an  "idle  word,"  which  is  perhaps  forgotten  as  soon  as  spoken. 

The  work  will  be  read  with  interest,  though  often  a  painful  one.  It 
is  well  written,  and  contains  natural  descriptions  of  a  great  variety  of 
character,  and  many  valuable  hints  may  be  taken  fiom  it  in  all  classes  of 
society. 

From  the  Puritan  Recorder,  Boston. 

This  book  is  aimed  particularly  at  that  great  and  growing  evil — the 
easy  and  frequent  disruption  of  the  tie  that  binds  a  minister  to  his  peo- 
ple. Though  it  takes  the  form  of  a  story,  consisting  very  much  of  con- 
versation's between  different  individuals,  it  contains  nothing  that  may  not 
be  true  to  the  letter,  and  nothing  which,  if  it  should  be  stated  as  fact, 
would  be  regarded  as  at  all  extraordinary.  The  evil  which  it  contem- 
plates is  a  fearful  one,  and  the  author  deserves  well  of  the  Christian 
public  at  large,  for  this  timely  and  ingenious  effort  to  arrest  it. 


From  the  Middlesex  Journal. 

We  have  read  this  volume  with  great  interest,  and  regard  it  as  well 
fitted  to  do  great  good  in  all  our  parishes.  All  sides  of  the  subject  are 
here  presented.  Not  only  is  the  life  of  the  pastor,  in  his  trials  and  joys, 
delineated,  but  the  case  of  the  parishioner  is  ako  described.  The  author 
does  not  blame  the  parishioner  for  all  the  evils  which  often  befall  the 
pastor,  but  justly,  in  many  instances,  throws  the  responsibility  on  the 
pastor  himself.  We  regard  the  volume  as  well  worthy  a  place  in  every 
family,  and  advise  all  readers  to  get  a  copy  and  read  it. 


From  the  Mother's  Assistant,  Boston. 

This  is  the  work,  after  all,  which  our  parishes  need.  Wherever  it 
shall  be  read,  its  influence  will  be  most  salutary.  It  will  help  the  good 
pastor,  and  his  good  wife,  too  ;  and  where  there  is  an  inefficient  or  selfish 
pastor,  his  parishioners  will  be  comforted  in  its  perusal.  We  like  the 
book  much,  and  deem  it  a  very  honest  and  fair  echo  of  a  voice  from  the 
parsonage.  We  advise  all  our  readers  to  obtain  a  copy.  Its  circulation 
in  all  our  parishes  would  be  attended  with  the  most  beneficial  results 


From  the  Congregationalist,  Boston. 

This  work  seems  to  be  characterized  by  a  conscientious  desire  to  por- 
tray, with  photographic  fidelity,  the  reality  of  life  in  the  ministry.     It  is 


4 

more  complete,  and  more  exhaustive  of  its  subject,  than  any  other  work 
of  its  class,  which  has  fallen  under  our  eye.  Certain  very  important 
topics  which  have  been  overlooked  before,  are  here  brought  out  with 
force  and  fulness.  The  tone  of  the  book  is  simple,  unartistic  and  ex- 
perimental. It  makes  upon  us  the  impression  of  having'  been  written — 
not  by  a  professedly  fine  writer  for  the  sake  of  making  a  fine  book,  but 
rather  as  one  might  write  an  autobiography  for  some  purpose  of  general 
usefulness.  It  can  hardly  be  read  without  the  feeling  that  Virgil's 
"  quaeque  ipse  miserrima  vidi,  et  quorum  pars  magna  fui,"  would  be  its 
most  truthful  motto.  We  have  been,  in  our  time,  both  a  country  min- 
ister and  the  son  of  a  country  minister,  and  we  can  bear  testimony  to 
the  essential  truthfulness  of  the  story.  "The  other  store,"  "the  load  of 
wood,"  "the  letter,"  &c.,  are  especially  veracious  chapters.  We  think 
this  book  is  calculated  to  do  extensive  good. 


From  Rev.  Mr.  Huntington's  Monthly,  Boston. 

The  purpose  of  the  work,  clearly,  is  to  exhibit  the  mischiefs  and  sins 
which  are  likely  to  attend  any  relation  between  a  minister  and  his  peo- 
ple that  is  not  thoroughly  generous  and  fair  on  both  sides.  The  subtle 
processes  by  which  an  immoral  and  destructive  policy  creeps  into  this 
relation, — the  meannesses  that  may  disgrace  the  parochial  character, 
the  disorganizing  power  of  a  few  factious  malcontents,  the  fatal  growth 
of  suspicion  and  ill-will,  the  errors  of  well-meaning  pastors,  are  all. 
graphically  described.  The  narrative,  though  simple  and  straight-forward, 
is  not  without  a  strong  and  painful  interest.  If  a  large  preclominance  is 
given  to  difficulties  of  a  pecuniary  nature,  it  is  probably  because  these 
difficulties  have  really  grown,  in  many  places,  into  the  most  serious  im- 
portance. In  this  regard,  the  book  does  for  the  recent  "  Statement  of 
Facts,"  issued  from  Boston,  disclosing  the  financial  disabilities  of  the 
New  England  clergy,  what  a  set  of  plates  does  for  a  scientific  treatise,  or 
a  series  of  colored  engravings  for  a  work  of  physical  geography.  There 
is  certainly  instruction  in  it.  The  story  has  a  life-like  air  ;  and  many 
readers  will  here  find  entertaining  portraits  of  personages  they  have  per- 
sonally known,  and  individual  names  for  generic  foibles.  Col.  Presby 
and  Miss  Bemis  represent  facts  which  have  sorely  tried  many  a  minister's 
Christian  patience. 


UC  SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FACILIT 


A    000036463     8 


